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Veolia fails to convince
The latest evidence submitted to the Public Inquiry
by would-be Sherwood Forest Incinerator operators
Veolia has failed to convince the competent
authority, Natural England, that the proposed
180,000 tonne per annum waste incinerator would not
contribute to severe adverse effects on the
Important Bird Area that overlaps with Veolia's
chosen site.
Natural England called for planning authorities to
adopt a "risk-based approach" to the Sherwood Forest
site, currently under consideration for Special
Protection Area status due to the presence of a
significant population of woodlark and nightjar.
The public inquiry, which began in October 2009, was
adjourned on three occasions to address the issues
arising from the Habitat Regulations. Veolia were
twice given months to prepare a shadow appropriate
assessment, and twice Veolia have failed to submit
evidence that ruled out severe adverse effects upon
the integrity of the potential Special Protection
Area, as defined by the existing Important Bird
Area.
People Against Incineration (PAIN), who have
consistently argued that Veolia's proposals are for
the wrong technology on the wrong site, has taken
full advantage of the delays to submit further
evidence demonstrating that a facility of the sized
and nature of that proposed is simply not required
to sustainably manage the County's shrinking
quantities of residual waste.
PAIN's Honorary Chairman, Bernard Thompson, says:
"The community has great faith in the Planning
Inspector to arrive at the right conclusion. We
remain confident that the new Secretary of State
will decide to defy Veolia's wishes, and instead
secure this important site for the heathland
restoration we were promised years ago".
PAIN strongly agrees with the Nottinghamshire
Wildlife Trust's Janice Bradley, when she says: "Had
this incinerator and the Business Park not been
proposed, the [site] might now be fully restored,
thus creating the vital habitat link between the
heathland SSSIs and the wider forested landscape,
within which, open habitat restoration to heathland
has also been achieved".
In separate evidence submitted by Natural England
they conclude that: "Based on the information now
available...Natural England cannot rule out the
possibility of a likely significant effect occurring
from the ERF in combination with a number of other
plans and projects. Furthermore, we consider that
the effect of habitat loss from within the IBA alone
is likely to be significant in this scenario".
Newark and Sherwood District Council, who also
oppose Veolia's application, submitted fresh
evidence to show that the site "should be
prioritised for wildlife and recreation". According
to their evidence: "The Western Area
Strategy...indicates that the application site would
fall within an area of Biodiversity Protection and
Enhancement, an Action Area and an area of Tourism
Support. The strategy refers to the potential around
Rainworth to increase habitat creation to create a
corridor of semi-natural habitats stretching from
Sherwood through to Burnstump Country Park on the
northern edge of Nottingham".
Nottinghamshire County Council's latest evidence
recognises that "If these circumstances had
prevailed in January 2009, when the
application was reported to the Planning and
Licensing Committee, [as] the Waste Planning
Authority [the County Council's Planning Officer]
would have sought further information". The County's
evidence states that: "Whether or not there is any
legal requirement to do so, the [County Council]
considers it would be inappropriate to grant
permission unless the Secretary of State is
satisfied that, if an SPA is designated, the ERF
would not have any significant adverse effects upon
its integrity."
The public inquiry into Veolia's proposals for a
Sherwood Forest Incinerator will resume on Tuesday
28th September at the Rainworth Village Hall in
Nottinghamshire. The inquiry is set to finish with
closing submissions on Tuesday 26th October,
although a decision is not expected before the
Spring of 2011.
On Wednesday evening 6th October 2010 Rainworth
residents will be given the opportunity to speak
directly to the Planning Inspector, Mr Rupert
Grantham. Many residents have already booked their
place, and a petition signed more than 2,300 people
will be submitted calling for “the former Rufford
Colliery car park (Rainworth) and the larger UK Coal
site to be restored to heathland and woodland and
included in the Greenwood Community Forest (in
accordance with the 1995 restoration conditions) and
any emerging Sherwood Forest Regional Park”.
Plan of badly thought out site can be seen here with
Location and Extent of Woodlark Territories 2010
overlaid. |
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