Manvers waste plant - protesters hit out

ANTI-incinerator campaigners have accused waste bosses of keeping them in the dark by failing to provide enough information about the rubbish-processing plant earmarked for their doorstep.

Concerned residents from Bolton, Adwick, Mexborough and Wath packed into a public meeting last week to put Barnsley Council leader Cllr Steve Houghton on the spot over the project.

While Cllr Houghton did his best to allay their fears, campaigners said this week that they were still worried about potential health risks and attacked what they called “a blatant failure to hold a proper consultation.”

Rob Nicholas, whose Adwick home is within a mile of the preferred site for the waste plant, said that he had initially heard about the plans through word of mouth, while other residents had been sent TWO letters informing them of the proposals.

Mr Nicholas said that he and others had not been given enough information about the proposed scheme to be convinced of its safety, but the fact that all four bidders were considering a waste-burning process had left them with fears that it may not be completely safe.

“The biggest issue is the sheer lack of consultation we've had,” he said.

“The vast majority of people had not been notified formally and had to find out about it by word of mouth, while many of those who had been notified received two letters.

“They’re saying that they don’t know what technology is going to be used at the moment so it's difficult for us to state our case properly.

“A lot of money has been spent reclaiming the land around here and that seems a waste if something like this is built there.

“There are still a lot of questions to answer.”

Mr Nicholas and other campaigners are meeting local councillors today to demand more answers and hope to make more residents aware of the issues surrounding the proposed plant.

What do you think of the consultation? Click here to register your vote.