MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT PLANNED LOCATION OF NEW WASTE PROCESSING PLANT
Dear Mr Weatherly
I am an extremely worried mother
of two - who has chosen to send her children to Down's Infant school - but
something has happened that is causing me to consider deferring their start date
to protect their health and safety. I would be really grateful if you could take
the time to read the below....
I'm not sure if you are aware of
this - no one I've spoken to at the council seems to know about this - but
Brighton Council are currently considering a plannng proposal from Onyx South
Downs (ref bh2005/00304/fp) to build a Waste Transfer Site in Hollingdean Lane.
This site will be used to process the whole of Brighton and Hove's household
waste. The people who live in this area have until 24th March to send in letters
of concern to the planning office of Brighton and Hove City Council.
The site, as you may know, will
be behind Down's Infants School - and the entrance to the new 5 storey building
that will house this waste processing plant will be approx 10 metres away from
the playground. There will be 37 tonne HGV's bringing waste to and from the site
at approx 364 trips a day. They will drive past the front of the school and then
unload behind the school. I understand that Onyx propose 120000 tonnes of
waste/year – and apparently if the scheme is granted they will be able to
import EU waste and waste from around the UK.
Infants will have to be at
school with waste dust - diesel fuel – noise pollution (every time one of the
HGV's reverse there will be a beeping noise, and have you ever heard glass
smashing quietly?) During summer I would imagine the stench will be very
unpleasant - and Brighton is a windy place, who knows what the wind will blow
over the school? I have doubts that Onyx will bear corporate responsibility for
the effect on the 860 children at the Infants school - if they felt any kind of
moral responsibility they would not be progressing the plans for this
application. The Ofsted officer who looked at the school last year reported that
there were opportunities for more outside space for the children to play in - if
the plan goes ahead the playground will be rendered unusable.
The roads in the area will
suffer a huge increase in HGV usage - and the area is a densely populated
residential area. The increase in traffic will effect air quality in an area
already designated as poor air quality.
The school have not been
consulted about this by council or Onyx - and it seems the whole thing is a fait
accomplis, Brighton Council seem to be on their way to agreeing this awful
project with Onyx. I called the education department today and spoke with
the PA to the director of education - and she knew nothing about this plan. She
took my number for someone to call back - but of course I have heard nothing.
I work hard, pay taxes, have
contributed towards this society. All I ask in return is that my children can
live a safe and healthy life. The law states I have to hand my children over to
the care of the education system, but surely I have the right to expect that the
environment into which I entrust my children is not going to cause them harm?
Brighton Council has a duty of care towards people in Brighton - especially
children. Allowing Onyx to build the site behind a school and in a residential
area is not living up to this duty of care.
There was a labour councillor
and green party councillors at the meeting at Down's School this week - and no
representation from your party. Does this mean you agree with the proposal. What
are your views? Can you help?
Yours Sincerely
Rebecca Greenwood (undecided voter)
17th March 2005
Dear Ms Greenwood,
Thank you for your email.
My own personal view is that I
am surprised that there is not a more suitable site elsewhere - either on an
existing Brownfield site, or alternatively, at a number of smaller sites.
Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club were made to give detailed reasons why
other sites were not suitable and I see no reason why that rule cannot be
applied here.
I did attend the first public
meeting on this issue and made my position clear there. However, I did not get
invited or know about the recent meeting. I wish I had - I would have been
there! The site is on the boundary of three wards - all with Labour or Green
councillor representation. This may be why no Conservatives were contacted to be
there to give our view. At the first meeting, both Labour and Greens expressed
that sites like this were needed and despite repeated attempts for commitment,
they would not say they were against the site. I believe they may have said that
now - but can you trust them?
This Labour and Green
administration have clogged up our roads in Brighton with their misguided
polices. This proposal will put more congestion on our streets without any
corresponding measures to ease traffic flow. This is in addition to the many
well made points you noted.
Please do keep me informed of
further meetings. I will be there!
Mike Weatherley
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Brighton Pavilion
22nd March 2005