MP calls emergency meeting over waste plant threat

4:24pm Thursday 29th July 2010

By Alexandra Barham

MP James Clappison has called an emergency meeting with members of Hertfordshire County Council's environment committee to discuss the threat of a waste plant in Radlett.

A company that wants to build an "energy from waste plant" on Green Belt land near Radlett belonging to quarrying business Lafarge has been shortlisted by the county council as one of two preferred bidders.

The precise location will not be known until E.ON Energy from Waste AG submits its detailed bid, but the incinerator is likely to be on the Harper lane Complex in Radlett, near to the former Handley Page airfield, between Radlett and Shenley, where residents have just fought off a railfreight terminal in a colossal planning battle.

Speaking following the announcement today, the Hertsmere MP, who represents Radlett, said: "I am extremely concerned about this proposal and I am very anxious that local voices are heard."

Mr Clappison has called a meeting with county councillor for Watling Caroline Clapper, who sits on the council's environment and planning committee, to discuss a plan of action.

Responding to Mr Clappison's request, Councillor Clapper said: "This proposal has just been brought to my attention and I have to say it is a bit of a surprise. Clearly my initial reaction is that residents of Radlett will be unlikely to welcome the news that an 'Energy from Waste' plant may be sited on their front door.

"I think it is unlikely that it will deliver any tangible benefits to our community and I will certainly be exploring the implications of this tender in detail and discussing it with keystake holders with a view to ensuring the interests of Radlett are protected."

The massive processing plant burning hundreds of thousands of rubbish from across Hertfordshire is already causing concern for residents who recently emerged victorious from an exhausting battle to prevent a giant railfreight terminal being built on the airfield.

Stop the Rail Freight Exchange(STRiFE) campaigner Cathy Bolshaw told the Review: : "Obviously it's worrying and it's disturbing - it's the last thing we need. I think to be able to comment any further we need to have to know further details, but in principle it's quite worrying."

The authority's other preferred bidder, Veolia Environmental Services, wants to build the plant on the New Barnfield former school site in Hatfield, which has drawn a huge swell of opposition over the last two years.

Critics insist the plant will be no more than a crude incinerator, blighting its immediate environment with dangerous fumes and heavy lorries.

The council, however, maintains that such plants have to conform to stringent Environment Agency rules to safeguard health.

Costing more than £200 million to build, the plant will be designed to generate 200 Megawatts of electricity, enough to power 20,000 homes.

Tenders, including precise locations, access arrangements, and costs, will be submitted in December, with a sole preferred bidder appointed in June 2011.

The planning process will take at least a year, with construction not likely to start before August 2012.

The plant could be operating by spring 2015, and will be designed to process the county's estimated annual waste surplus of 320,000 tonnes by 2039.