SCC SAY YES TO INCINERATION

GUILDFORD ANTI-INCINERATOR NETWORK PRESS RELEASE

'GAIN' CALLS ON RESIDENTS TO HOLD COUNTY COUNCILLORS TO ACCOUNT FOR INCINERATOR DECISIONS

This week, the Guildford Anti-Incinerator Network (GAIN) reported on a series of crucial votes by Surrey County Councillors on whether they will bring waste incinerators to Surrey.

On Friday last week (9th June 2006) Surrey County Council's Environment and Economy Select Committee concluded its waste review and voted on whether to recommend incinerators or an incinerator-free alternative.

Observed Colin Matthews, GAIN Chairman, “The Inquiry came to a shambolic end with most Members even voting against recycling initiatives that the Council is supposedly encouraging and with no evidence of having given serious consideration to the incinerator-free options presented to the Committee.” Mr Matthews commented, “We are deeply shocked that Surrey is pressing ahead with a Waste Disposal Plan that will bring incinerators to Surrey without even assessing an incinerator-free treatment option that meets targets by recovering energy from gas. By contrast, six options that included burning waste were considered. Incinerator-free cannot emerge as a good option if it is not even included in Surrey’s assessments! We are disappointed that Surrey’s Inquiry appeared to degenerate into little more than window dressing for the Council’s long-standing commitment to incineration.”

As the Committee could not reach agreement on incineration, a recorded vote was taken at the conclusion of the Inquiry on whether to recommend incinerators for dealing with Surrey's residual waste. 7 Councillors voted in favour of incineration, 3 voted against and 1 left the meeting abstaining [1]. Two Councillors voted in favour of an incinerator-free approach [2].

Colin Matthews, Chairman of GAIN commented, "We are extremely grateful to the County Councillors who supported the incinerator-free approach being advocated by several Local Authorities in Surrey. However, the people of Surrey will be astounded to learn that the majority of County Councillors on this Committee are recommending incineration in spite of evidence that an incinerator-free alternative, so clearly favoured by residents, would use proven technology, meet current targets and offer flexibility for the future. Whilst the majority on this Committee have followed Surrey County Council's long standing commitment to burning our waste, we firmly believe that pressure from residents, supportive County Councillors, MPs and other Local Authorities in the County can still force SCC to change direction. Above all, residents must hold Surrey County Councillors to account for the decisions they are taking."

On Tuesday (13th June 2006), SCC's Full Council meeting was asked to approve a new draft Waste Plan for Surrey so that it can be submitted to Government for approval by an Inspector. The Plan identifies six sites in Surrey where planning permission for incinerators “will be granted”, subject to various conditions. In a recorded vote, 44 Councillors supported the draft Waste Plan with its sites earmarked for incinerators, 10 voted against expressing concern that the draft plan was biased towards incineration, 5 Members abstained and at least one Member left the meeting. [3]

Colin Matthews commented, "Surrey residents now have an opportunity to see how their local County Councillor voted on the crucial issue of whether to provide sites for incinerators in Surrey. This is all the more telling because an incinerator-free alternative is available, viable and has been asked for by many thousands of residents.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

[1] SCC Environment and Economy Select Committee 9th June 2006 - vote on incineration:-

"The majority of the Committee recommend that Energy from Waste* is the most appropriate technology at present in order to deal with Surrey's residual waste within the current economic and legislative environment…"

*Euphemism for incineration

For incineration in Surrey on this basis:
Fred Chipperfield [C]
Camberley West
Nick Harrison [RA]
Banstead West
Marian Myland [C]
Godstone
Tony Rooth [C]
Shalford
Lavinia Sealy [C]
Bisley, Chobham & West End
Roy Taylor [C]
Walton South and Oatlands
Denise Turner [C]
Staines South & Ashford West

Against incineration in Surrey on this basis:
Carol Coleman [C]
Ashford
Stephen Cooksey [LD]
Dorking and Holmwoods
Sarah Di Caprio [LD]
Guildford South East

Left the meeting saying "I abstain":
Mike Bennison [C]
Hinchley Wood, Claygate & Oxshott

Absent:
Mike Nevins [C]
Worplesdon

[2] SCC Environment and Economy Select Committee 9th June 2006 - vote on incinerator-free alternative :-

"The following members of the Committee recommend that incinerator-free options such as Mechanical Biological Treatment using Anaerobic Digestion are an appropriate technology in order to deal with Surrey's residual waste…."

For incinerator-free in Surrey on this basis:
Stephen Cooksey [LD]
Dorking and Holmwoods
Sarah Di Caprio [LD]
Guildford South East

Against incinerator-free in Surrey on this basis:
Fred Chipperfield [C]
Camberley West
Carol Coleman [C]
Ashford
Nick Harrison [RA]
Banstead West
Marian Myland [C]
Godstone
Tony Rooth [C]
Shalford
Lavinia Sealy [C]
Bisley, Chobham & West End
Roy Taylor [C]
Walton South and Oatlands
Denise Turner [C]
Staines South & Ashford West

Left the meeting saying "I abstain":
Mike Bennison [C]
Hinchley Wood, Claygate & Oxshott

Absent:
Mike Nevins [C]
Worplesdon

[3] SCC Full Council meeting 13th June 2006 - vote on the draft Surrey Waste Plan:-

For draft Surrey Waste Plan:
Timothy Ashton [C]
Ashtead
Cyril Baily [C]
Cranleigh and Ewhurst
Bill Barker [C]
Horsleys
Mike Bennison [C]
Hinchley Wood, Claygate & Oxshott
Fred Chipperfield [C]
Camberley West
Helyn Clack [C]
Dorking Rural
Elizabeth Compton [C]
St Johns & Brookwood
Andew Crisp [C]
Woking South
Frank Davies [C]
Lower Sunbury & Halliford
David Davis [C]
Shere
John Farmer [C]
Farnham North
Angela Fraser [C]
Banstead East
Chris Frost [RA]
Epsom & Ewell South East
Michael Gosling [C]
Banstead South
Dr Lynne Hack [C]
Redhill
Tim Hall [C]
Leatherhead & Fetcham East
Kay Hammond [C]
Horley West
Simon Harding [C]
Reigate Central
David Harmer [C]
Waverley Western Villages
Nick Harrison [RA]
Banstead West
Peter Hickman [RA]
The Dittons
David Hodge [C]
Warlingham
Daniel Kee [C]
Merstham & Reigate Hill
Ian Lake [C]
Weybridge
Ernest Mallett [RA]
West Molesey
Sally Marks [C]
Caterham Valley
Geoff Marlow [C]
The Byfleets
Peter Martin [C]
Godalming South, Milford & Witley
Jan Mason [RA]
Epsom & Ewell West
Dorothy Mitchell [C]
Cobham
David Munro [C]
Farnham South
Marian Myland [C]
Godstone
Maurice Neighbour [C]
Camberley East
Tim Oliver [C]
East Molesey and Esher
Alan Peirce [C]
Windlesham
Tom Phelps-Penry [RA]
Bisley, Chobham & West End
Tony Rooth [C]
Shalford
Lavinia Sealy [C]
Bisley, Chobham & West End
Nick Skellett [C]
Oxted
James Smith [C]
Bookham and Fetcham West
Jean Smith [RA]
Epsom and Ewell North
Christine Stevens [C]
Haslemere
Shamas Tabrez [C]
Woking Central
Roy Taylor [C]
Walton South and Oatlands

Against draft Surrey Waste Plan:
Stephen Cooksey [LD]
Dorking and the Holmwoods
Sarah Di Caprio [LD]
Guildford South East
John Doran [LD]
Horsell
David Goodwin [LD]
Guildford South West
Pauline Searle [LD]
Guildford North
Chris Slyfield [LD]
Godalming North
Diana Smith [LD]
Knaphill
Colin Taylor [LD]
Epsom and Ewell South West
Hazel Watson [LD]
Dorking Hills
Fiona White [LD]
Guildford West

Abstentions included:
Carol Coleman [C]
Ashford
Ray Lowther [LAB]
Chertsey
Chris Pitt [C]
Frimley Green and Mytchett
Val Tinney [C]
Pyrford
Elise Whiteley [C]
Foxhills and Virginia Water

More info available at www.no-incinerator.org.uk