Waste plant protestors rally town for support

FURIOUS opponents of plans to open a waste transfer site a few hundred yards from homes and a primary school are calling for the support of the whole town to block it.

During a public meeting on Tuesday at  Tany’s Dell School – which is located less than 200 yards from the site in Templefields – local residents, business owners councillors and school staff vowed to continue their fight.

With concerns voiced over increased traffic, noise, vermin and pollution as well as the detrimental effect the site may have on local property values and businesses, it was decided an action group should be set up to explore other ways of stopping the project.

Councillors said the waste plant would affect the entire town and urged "each and every" resident in Harlow to support the cam¬paign.

"If this development goes ahead then we are going to have 100 container lorries bigger than those that drive for Tesco coming in and out of Harlow every day," said Tony Durcan, Labour county councillor for the Harlow West divi¬sion.

"The lorries are not sealed and we have seen the drainage that comes out when they are travelling. The fact is it will cause chaos and mess for everyone in Harlow, not just those living in the immediate area. We need the entire community’s support on this."

There was also anger at the way voting was conducted at last month’s meeting of Essex

County Council’s ECC development and regulation committee meeting was also voiced, with some claiming the chairman had demanded a second vote after the first went against the transfer station. The newly-formed action group agreed to lodge a formal complaint against the procedure.

Shortly after the meeting, Harlow MP Robert Halfon and leader of Harlow Council Andrew Johnson both pledged their support for the campaign.

"The action group one million per cent have my support," Mr Halfon told the Star.

"I went to Essex County Council to lobby against the transfer during that plan¬ning meeting and will continue to do everything the action group want me to do to try and stop this development."

He added that ECC leader Peter Martin had agreed to visit Harlow to speak to the protestors.

Cllr Johnson added: "As a District Council we absolutely share our residents’ concerns and are continuing to talk to the county council to see whether any other option might be possible.

"There is a sizeable group opposed to the waste transfer station and their voice needs to be heard."

But Essex County Councillor Kevin Bentley, cabinet member for economic development and waste, claimed that "detailed investigations" have shown the waste site will not have a negative impact on the surrounding area.

“Nationally recognised assessments were carried out into traffic numbers, emissions, noise and odour, and in each case the results indicate that there will be no significant impact on the surrounding area," he told the Star this week.

“An odour management system will be installed within the facility to minimise emissions, which is proven to be fully compliant with Environment Agency benchmarks for preventing an unacceptable level of odour pollution.

"The impact on traffic will also be minimal, as the site is only expected to generate around 14 trips per hour at peak times. The site has been designed so that vehicles will be able to enter and exit without causing conflict to other road users.

“Our assessment into the noise that the new site would generate found there would be only a small increase, with no significant adverse impact on Tany’s Dell Primary School or residential areas.

"There is also no reason to suggest that the facility will attract vermin, as the site will be well managed and any waste will be transported securely."

To offer your support or to join the action group, email Michael Hustwitt at infor@lavertechnology.co.uk.