Cllr Croad is Ivybridge’s Devon County Councillor and holds the waste portfolio on Devon County Council. He is also Chair of South West Waste Partnerships, the Council body that is running the competition for an incinerator location in South Devon.

Luke Pollard said:

“If we are to stop the incinerator we need Ivybridge’s Devon County Councillor to be fully behind the campaign opposing the incinerator. Leading Ivybridge’s campaign against the incinerator is incompatible with being in charge of the body considering Lee Mill as an incinerator location. He cannot do both properly.”

“The local people I’ve spoken to want reassurance that having failed to tell them about plans for an incinerator on their doorstep our local councillor is going to do all he can to stop the incinerator. You cannot fight against the incinerator on one hand and lead the search for an incinerator on the other. That’s a horrendous and obvious conflict of interest. I’ve asked Cllr Croad to choose whether he is Ivybridge’s Councillor first and foremost or the Council’s waste portfolio holder. He cannot do both. I hope he chooses wisely.”

“It seems bizarre to me that Cllr Croad hasn’t already recognised this conflict of interest and taken action to resolve it. Yet again, local Tories are having to be hounded into supporting local residents opposing the incinerator.”

The panel for the meeting includes Cllr Roger Croad, the Ivybridge Councillor leading the search for a location for the new incinerator, Luke Pollard from Ivybridge Labour who is leading the political campaign against a new incinerator, and Frankie Dolan, an Ivybridge resident who is leading the residents’ campaign against the incinerator. Viridor have been invited to attend the public meeting.

Luke Pollard, Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for SW Devon, said:

“It is immediately apparent when you speak to residents in Ivybridge and Lee Mill that they have some very real concerns and questions that need answering about plans for an incinerator on their doorstep. An extra 120 trucks on the A38 every day delivering rubbish to an incinerator that will operate 24 hours a day is an alarming prospect. People need some proper answers to their questions.”

“We need a proper public debate about the incinerator. This means more than an exhibition and a few leaflets – it means public meetings and real discussion. That is why we’re holding a public meeting to give local people a chance to have their voices heard.”

Frankie Dolan, an Ivybridge resident who founded the ecoivy.org incinerator awareness website said:

“This meeting could be the last chance that Ivybridge residents have to voice their opinion before Viridor submit their application for planning permission. Please don’t think that someone will speak on your behalf, you need to come to the meeting and make sure any of your concerns are heard. What is ultimately decided could shape our community for years to come and I fear that if the public don’t participate in the discussion then planning decisions may be taken that are not in the best interests of the local people.”

Luke Pollard added: “We have invited Viridor to attend the meeting and listen to people’s concerns. They know this meeting is taking place. The company is happy holding the occasional exhibition about their plans but the true test for them will be whether they will turn up and listen to local people. If they don’t turn up there will be an empty chair on the panel. That will speak volumes for how the company regards the opinions of people in Lee Mill and Ivybridge. I hope Viridor accept our invitation to attend.”