Conservatives Deceive Public Over Incinerators (Saffron Walden Constituency Liberal Democrats)

Saffron Walden Constituency Liberal Democrats <info@saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk>

Conservatives Deceive Public Over Incinerators

June 19, 2007 8:11 PM

The Conservatives are deceiving local residents about their plans for incinerators in Essex.

The ruling Conservatives at Essex County Council have been found out trying to deceive the public over their intentions to use incinerators in the county. At a meeting of the cabinet today (19 June), Liberal Democrats rejected the administration's application for PFI government credits towards building waste disposal units because it signals a change of policy on incinerators.

Cllr Ian Gale, Liberal Democrats spokesman on waste management, said: "It is clear that this application includes the opportunity for the county council to burn elements from residents' waste in an incinerator. After years of insisting that they have a 'no incinerator' policy, this a spectacular U turn that has deceived the public as well as other elected councillors."

"We are very dubious about the way the administration has gone about putting this bid together in all aspects. There is not enough effort being made to reduce the amount of waste produced through more recycling; the cabinet member responsible for waste admitted that the recycling targets are 'cautious'. In an era of reducing and recycling waste that is simply unacceptable."

Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, Liberal Democrats group leader, said: "The government has been talking to the county council for some time and criteria for this PFI application have changed recently to accommodate the government's latest policy on incineration. It is obvious that the Conservatives have submitted an application to include waste burn because it will not get PFI credits if it doesn't include an incineration. The council leader's protestations that once the credits are secured, we will then decide whether to uses incineration or not or not even use the PFI credit at all, is pure nonsense. The PFI bib will not be successful without it.

"This is a dishonest attempt to deceive the public into accepting incineration, despite the public's clear objection to it from recent consultations."