Chieveley incinerator, 3-0 to the nimbies Options

[Bofem]

You may be aware that the BBC always measures large spaces in areas the 'size of Wales', and at the NWN, to help us understand things that are really tall, they prefer "X times as big as the BT Tower in Newbury".

There's "shock" at the "huge" "plant" "processing" "radioactive materials" on a "greenfield site". Got that? It's a REALLY BAD IDEA.

But wait. Some facts (as well as Grundon quotes) are missing.

household waste is increasing at 3% a year in West Berks.

People burning rubbish in back gardens is much more polluting than these new superclean plants. waste to energy plant.

Household energy costs set to rise 60% by 2015. So there's huge demand for alternatives to oil, gas and coal.

We have no landfill left. The Hermitage landfill is full up (of carrier bags, leaching battery acid, eternal plastic etc). The nearest is at Sutton Courtenay Abingdon, which is the home to most of London's waste (brought up by train since you ask). So there's no shortage of rubbish to be buried in the ground.

Chieveley's very good at making sure nothing happens at J13. They blocked plans 20 years ago for a business park/warehousing there, so it went to Greenham airbase instead. Worth a thought next time you're snarled up on the A339.

There's an oppportunity for West Berks to have cheaper energy and a cut in council tax if this can be negotiated properly. Remember the EU waste levy means WBC has to pay for every tonne of landfilled rubbish.

I know the NWN hasn't sourced any pro-voices yet, but it maybe not such a bad thing.