News from Cornwall Labour

Cornwall politicians need to be honest and bold on waste plans

Cornwall has an urgent waste crisis and local elected politicians need to be honest with the public and bold about the solutions say Labour’s parliamentary candidates Jude Robinson and Lee Jameson. Instead the new Unitary Council is throwing taxpayers’ money down the drain by opposing its own policies.

Jude Robinson said:

“Cornwall has a proud history of engineering pioneers like Richard Trevithick and William Murdoch – local politicians should not be running scared of new technology. Leading the way is always controversial and Cornwall is aiming to be a global leader in green technology, bringing new and better jobs into the county.

“Cornwall’s engineers built engine houses across our landscape and the iconic winding gear at South Crofty bringing industry, innovation and work – where would we be if they had not had the courage of their convictions?

“This is progress for our environment. We have the chance to put an end to landfill and provide renewable energy with the waste we can’t recycle. No-one else in Cornwall will have to put up with what the residents around the landfill at United Downs have suffered for decades.

“Cornwall Councillors should either ditch the plan or stick with it. What they are doing is paying Sita to fight the Council through the courts. It is completely ludicrous and could double taxpayers’ bills for waste management.”

Lee Jameson, who is fighting to represent the constituency of St Austell and Newquay at the next election, said:

“I understand the concerns of local residents at St Dennis but there is another side to this. The alternatives, such as autoclaving, being put forward would produce tons of powdery waste that would have to be heaped in the landscape – the St Austell area has had quite enough of that already.

“The current Waste Plans were developed over several years of consultation and the proposed Energy Recovery Facility will also bring new jobs and investment to the area as well as providing heat and power.

“Liberal Democrats supported the Energy from Waste plan for years and decided to pay Sita to develop it but they chickened out at the last minute.. Now they talk as if the whole thing had nothing to do with them. The current administration could change the contract if they wanted to but they are hiding behind Sita. It is the worst sort of politicking.”

Cornwall’s Waste management plan was developed over several years with wide consultation by the all-party administration at Cornwall County Council before 2005. It was supported by the ruling Liberal Democrats from 2005 – 2009 when, after delaying the decision until the last few weeks of their administration, it was rejected.

Although the Waste Plan has been labelled as ‘the incinerator’, it actually includes increased recycling, waste composting and other methods of dealing responsibly with Cornwall’s waste, plus electricity and heat generation.

Other news from Cornwall Labour

• Hundreds sign Falmouth for Orders petition - 30 January 2012
• Labour and unions campaign for dredging the port of Falmouth - 18 January 2012
• Regional funding put at risk by ministers' failure to act - 8 January 2012