For over three years, the Breathe Clean Air Group has been campaigning against Peel Holdings' plans for an incinerator in Davyhulme, just over the water from Salford. If it goes ahead, residents living near Eccles are right in the front line of the incinerator's emissions (see here).
Salford Council has opposed the incinerator on health grounds and so has Trafford Council. Indeed, today (Monday 10th February) and tomorrow (Tuesday 11th February) the High Court in Manchester is hearing Trafford Council's appeal against Eric Pickles' decision to allow Peel Holdings' incinerator to be built, after a Public Inquiry also ruled in Peel's favour.
Indeed, the Breathe Clean Air Group, which represents residents in Trafford and Salford, is claiming that the whole process so far has been biased in favour of Peel.
For instance, the Environment Agency granted the incinerator an Environmental Permit just two weeks before the Public Inquiry in November 2012, which may have prejudiced the Inspector's decision in favour of the plant.
Over the last three years the Breathe Clean Air Group has amassed a huge amount of evidence against the incinerator, ranging from flawed estimates of toxic nitrogen oxide emissions, to breaches of European Urban Air directives. But all along, the Environment Agency, the Inspector and Tory Minister Eric Pickles have found in favour of the plant.
"This flies in the face of common sense" says Pete Kilvert, Chairman of the Breathe Clean Air Group "The proposed incinerator is to be located in a densely populated area, next to an Air Quality Management Area and will not use Best Available Technology.
"The incinerator will not burn at a high enough temperature to destroy deadly dioxins; will produce masses of tiny particulates which won't be captured by the out-dated bag-filtration system; and will be dispersed up a chimney stack that is only half the height it should be" he adds "The additional traffic will cause fumes and congestion; the plant's monstrous forty metre high buildings will be a blot on the landscape; and the vitality and future of Urmston will be affected."
The hearing at Manchester's High Court over the next few days will decide the fate of Peel Holdings' Barton Incinerator once and for all. This really is the last legal chance to stop the thing.
For a full background see previous Salford Star article and follow the links – click here
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