HILTON SIGNS PETITION TO STOP INCINERATOR (Jeremy Hilton)

HILTON SIGNS PETITION TO STOP INCINERATOR

April 24, 2009 3:43 PM

Martin Horwood MP & Jeremy Hilton oppose a waste incinerator

Martin Horwood MP and Jeremy Hilton oppose waste incinerator

Liberal Democrat leader on the county council, Cllr. Jeremy Hilton joined Lib Dem Cheltenham MP, Martin Horwood on the steps of the Town Hall to sign a petition to stop the building of a massive waste incinerator in Gloucestershire. Friends of the Earth were raising the petition.

The Liberal Democrat group on the county council has pledged to halt the building of a massive waste incinerator in Gloucestershire. They have also set a target of reaching a recycling rate of 70%. The current recycling rate under the Tory administration at Shire Hall is just 43%.

The Labour government has awarded Gloucestershire County Council £92m of PFI credits for its residual waste project. The business plan put forward by the county's Conservative cabinet is for a massive waste incinerator at Javelin Park, to the south of the city. Gloucestershire County Council has recently purchased the site after months of negotiation.

Jeremy Hilton signs waste incinerator petition

Jeremy Hilton signs No to waste incinerator petition

The waste incinerator will burn up to 175,000 tonnes a year for a period of 30 years.

Jeremy Hilton said: "Liberal Democrats are demanding that other technologies are considered for the residual waste facility. The massive incinerator that the Tories propose will only encourage the burning of recyclable waste and waste from out of county - just to maintain the beast's appetite. Toxic ash from the waste incinerator will be dumped in Gloucestershire at Wingmoor Farm landfill site."

On the 17th of February, the county council held an industry day to brief potential operators of the incinerator. Outline solutions have to be in by 26th June.

Jeremy Hilton concluded: "We must aim to reduce, reuse and recycle more of our waste than we do currently. There are other more environmentally friendly methods for processing residual waste such as Mechanical Biological Treatment. Only the Liberal Democrats can put a stop to the incinerator. I hope people will vote for our candidates at county election on the 4th June."

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