Inquiry

The Public Inquiry starts on 19^th Nov at 10:00, will be held at Hallmark Hotel, Matson Lane, Gloucester, GL4 6EA, and is provisionally planned to sit for 20 days, up until the end of January 2014. After the Inquiry, the Inspector will produce a report for Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State, who will make the final decision late in 2014. A published timetable document can be read here, and is also available to view on the new Inquiry pages on our website, along with other relevant documents.

The Inspector hearing the case is Brian Cook, who has prior knowledge of this project, as he was the Inspector who presided over GCC’s Waste Core Strategy “Examination in Public”. Although the Waste Core Strategy was adopted, Mr Cook did question a number of fundamental aspects of GCC’s strategy on waste, including calling into question the ease with which Javelin Park could successfully be used as a site for an incinerator…

Go and Say No – 19^th Nov

The Inquiry is open to the general public and we are asking for people to attend as much of it as they can, especially the first day on 19^th November at 9.30am. The Inquiry opening day is a great opportunity for opponents of the incinerator to turn out in force and reiterate their preference for cheaper, greener and safer alternatives. It is important that the Inspector sees this, as well as the Press, who will be there in greatest numbers on the first day. We have been publicising our request for attendance on 19^th Nov via our poster and leaflets. We’d be grateful for your help in spreading the word. Posters are available on request or can be downloaded from our website’s Resources page.

Activity to date

We have been working hard with our advocate, Dr Alan Watson, to prepare for the Inquiry. All the so-called “Rule 6” parties (officially recognised at the Inquiry) have had to submit many documents in advance. GlosVAIN’s Statement of Case outlines the arguments we will make at the Inquiry. Our next key milestone is submission of our “Proof of Evidence” by 24^th October. This document will put the detailed evidence for our case. All our documents can be viewed here.

Working with partners

The other Rule 6 parties, all opposing UBB’s Appeal, are Stroud District Council, Friends of the Earth Gloucestershire and GCC (Planning Department). Their Statements of Case can also be found on our website here. There will also be the opportunity for organisations and Parish and Town Councils (“Interested Parties”) to speak at the Inquiry, and, finally, it has been confirmed that there will be an afternoon and evening session held, at which members of the public will be able to speak on request.

Alternative waste plans

GlosVAIN has been arguing for some time that alternative approaches to managing our waste are better, cheaper and more deliverable than Mass Burn Incineration. Now several local companies are applying for planning permission for just such alternatives. For instance, Cory Environmental is developing plans for an MBT plant and Anaerobic Digester at Wingmore Farm; and ART Gloucestershire is well down the road with plans for an MBHT plant at Javelin Park, next door to UBB’s proposed site. Both these plans are for plant that is less visually intrusive (under 15m), would recycle more waste, and would be better for the environment and for health. They are also significantly cheaper. Whilst GlosVAIN does not support any particular proposal or company, we think these developments show that the incinerator is no longer needed.

GlosVAIN excluded

from Plan B Committee

Gloucestershire County Council has set up a "Plan B" committee to look at alternatives to incineration, should UBB’s appeal fail. However progress has been painfully slow, meetings have been closed to the public, and GlosVAIN’s offers of help have been rebuffed. We do not hold up much hope for any real progress from this committee, and fear that it shows that GCC’s heart remains with the incinerator project.