Deadline for incinerator views extended

Public consultation on the controversial incinerator plans for a village in Staffordshire has been extended by another month.

The deadline for residents, groups and councils to have their say about the proposals for an incinerator in Four Ashes has been extended to July 25.

This comes after parish councils across the South Staffordshire area, including Huntington Parish Council wrote to Staffordshire County Council asking for more time to consider the plans.

Plans submitted by the county council would see the multi-million pound incinerator burning 300,000 tons of rubbish every year and expected to create enough energy to power 24,000 homes.

Cheslyn Hay Parish Council has now formally voiced its objections to the plan via letter to the county council.

Parish clerk, Barry Davies said: "Having viewed a range of scientific evidence we believe the proposal for an incinerator constitutes an unacceptable risk to the residents of Cheslyn Hay.

"Two facts are particularly significant, one is that science is continually evolving and research studies are revealing toxicity at progressively lower exposures for many toxic substances.

"Secondly there is the historical fact that the regulators have consistently and repeatedly underestimated the risk of pollutants and toxic chemicals.

"This has been true for asbestos, lead, DDT, PCBs, dioxins and CFCs. We have no confidence in the ability of the various agencies to identify risks and protect the public."

Mr Davies added: "Although Cheslyn Hay is not listed within the four kilometre radius of the proposed site, we are adjacent. We believe that given the variable nature of the winds, there would be a significant effect on Cheslyn Hay from fall-out from the emissions from the incinerator chimney."