Click image to enlarge, and possibly again to magnify,
or link to the Pinkham Way Alliance web site,
or the Pinkhamwaste web site,
or see a perspective image closer in.
or the Pinkhamwaste web site,
or see a perspective image closer in.
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Enfield Councillor offers a further Pinkham Way public meeting, if people email him...
Below is a report and comment on
ENFIELD'S PUBLIC MEETING OF 29 MARCH:
ENFIELD'S PUBLIC MEETING OF 29 MARCH:
The boss of the NLWA promotes Pinkham Way at Residents' Forum
UPDATE 31 March: Councillor offers to organise additional public meeting about the NLWA proposals - see the COMMENTS section below, after this main text.
There have also been a few 'improvements' made to this report, since first published.
There have also been a few 'improvements' made to this report, since first published.
First, other Residents' Forum matters, then the NLWA:
Spring 2011: Opening of new Bowes Road/Wilmer Way footbridge has happened
Autumn 2011: Completion of shared cycle/footway A406 North Circular
Winter 2011: Completion of tree planting and scheme landscaping
Winter 2011/12: Resurfacing complete
Spring 2012: Completion of works at all major junctions
Spring 2012: Construction complete.
Domestic Waste Collection: Currently targets for recycling are 40% in 2010 (will be missed), 45% in 2015, and 50% in 2020. The 'three wheeled-bin pilot' has been at 14,000 Enfield properties: Recycling was 28%, and is now 47%, with a 60% reduction in street litter. Feedback (from those who have responded) is 80%-ish positive for nearly every 'issue'. Smaller bins, or sharing with neighbours is possible. Phase Two roll-out will be by end of June, then three later phases. Recycling for flats is about to be improved, with food waste collections.
PINKHAM WAY PRESENTATION
"The NLWA is a statutory authority; current waste disposal is 40% at Edmonton incinerator, 30% to landfill [via Brent Cross/Hendon's Rail Transfer Station], and 30% recycling - which must be 50% by 2020. The Landfill Levy is increasing, and also, the EU effectively mandates food waste reductions and recycling.
"Two 'primary treatment sites' are proposed, for 'black-bag waste', both using 'Mechanical Biological Treatment': Pinkham Way, for up to 300,000 tonnes/year ("it could never be more") and a rebuilt Edmonton, for a larger quantity. The contract is for a maximum of 1.2-million-tonnes/year - but with 50% recycling [that material would be taken elsewhere], that is 600,000 tonnes/year at the two sites. There is a shortage of sites, to meet the Mayor's policy of treating waste within London.
"Separation of the 'black-bag waste' would be into:
- recyclables - mainly metals,
- food waste - leading to composting, or to 'anaerobic digestion' (AD), and
- residuals - paper, plastic, ...
"The residual waste (and any solid residue of AD) is called [or rather, would be processed into] 'solid recovered fuel', which would be shipped elsewhere [assumed to be Brent Cross, from both sites].
"Pinkham Way would be on-stream in 2016. This would be a 'flag-ship contract' of 'exemplary standards'. The planning application is likely to submitted at the end of May. It would include a 'transport assessment', and there would be some 'natural' phasing of lorry traffic, with dustcart lorry peaks in late morning and mid-afternoon.
"Not all dustcarts would go to Pinkham Way and Edmonton. There would likely be two extra delivery points, Islington [presumably Hornsey] and Hendon [Brent Cross].
"Thank you and Good-night."
Run for the door (not really).
[A longer presentation, display boards, and a slide-show didn't happen, because of shortage of time - not the NLWA's fault, though.]
Questions were generally hostile, about need, location, congestion, fumes, noise, danger, smells, ... (One single opinion, though, was: "Get on with it.")
[Regarding the two extra 'delivery points': Hornsey was publicly known about; Brent Cross, for this purpose, is something new; both sites would take untreated waste from dustcarts, and use bigger lorries to take it to (presumably) Pinkham Way.]
"Roughly, TWO dustcarts, of 10-tonnes load, result in ONE big lorry, of 20-tonnes." (A Councillor had asked earlier about electric vehicles: "Anything is possible, but they are 'very likely' [implied anyway] to all use diesel engines, for large lorries, in this timescale. Powering dustcarts and recycling lorries is up to the boroughs.")
"Cannot just muddle through" - new methods and contracts "essential", because cost of Landfill Levy will be too great [politically, and then in the media]. No expectation of any willingness of the public to recycle much above 50%, or real changes in world manufacturing methods(!), so moving towards 'zero waste' cannot be assumed, and it would be too risky not to "plan for achieveable targets".
[Here is one of many short explanations of 'Zero Waste' - from 2009 in Wales. The NLWA knew about Scotland's target of 5% landfill by 2025, with seemingly little or no extra incineration.]
"The NLWA favours 'energy recovery' from residual waste, not just organic waste."
[The Authority is saying: incineration replaces landfill - blah! However, the community campaigns across the UK, against new-style incinerators, are increasing - see the national web site UKWIN, and the international GAIA site. The NLWA has a history of mass-burn incineration, so maybe culturally it is drawn towards waste from all the seven boroughs becoming incinerator fuel, and therefore 'requires' Pinkham Way to be built. On the other hand, WEST London is about 18-months behind NORTH London, and its policies seem more open to debate - see a recently-started community website there.]
[Failed to ask about what SORT of processing might happen at Pinkham Way, to produce the 'solid recovered fuel'. The Brent Cross developers, if waste processing happens there, have previously called the process:
"more cooking than incinerating"
and 700degC has been mentioned for possible plants there. On the other hand, the property company Hammerson is better at running Brent Cross shopping centre, than knowing much about waste plants. Or traffic predictions, if the shopping centre doubles in size.]
"No knowledge of how 'wide-scale' the transport assessment would be." [To the west for instance, would it be just to Colney Hatch Lane, or to Brent Cross / Staples Corner / A5 Edgware Road? ("Don't know.") And would it include the considerable number of Edmonton 'incinerator fuel' delivery lorries, as through-traffic, merely going PAST Pinkham Way to Brent Cross? ("No, the transport assessment would not include those.") The more junior sidekick/PR minder emerged, and started taking notes, and merely said in an unfriendly manner, "statutory requirements would be met" - not a great contribution to make. Maybe it had been a long day.]
Please email any additions/corrections to the above to pinkhamway@gmail.com
Or simply add comments below, whether you were there or not.
Evening Standard: "Barnet residents fight plan for UK's biggest waste plant near homes"
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| Link to Evening Standard |
"Britain's biggest rubbish processing plant is set to be built in north London on a site surrounded by homes and schools.
"Waste authority managing director David Beadle said:
"We understand residents' concerns… we have been working hard to raise awareness of our plans, before we submit the outline planning application. The facility will be enclosed, with no sorting, recycling or treatment in the open air."
'Enfield Advertiser' (3), 'Barnet Press', 'Barnet Times', 'Haringey Journal', and the 'Ham & High'. (Phew!)
(Click to enlarge, and usually again to magnify)
(Click to enlarge, and usually again to magnify)
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
North London Newspapers (Barnet Press, Enfield Advertiser and Gazette, and Haringey Advertiser)
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| Link to web site |
"The 'Pinkham Way Alliance', formed to oppose the proposals on the site of the former Friern Barnet sewage treatment works – known as Pinkham Way – has called on the North London Waste Authority to hold a 'proper, open debate' with all residents on the subject of waste management, and suspend the current planning process."
Slideshow of Pinkham Way Views ("Wish You Were Here")
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| Click above to begin... |
(Photos: Bidesh Sarkar of the Pinkham Way Alliance)
Map of new 'Countdown' digital displays at bus stops is released
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| Click above to enlarge (PDF file of the whole of London is here) |
Barnet Times: "Barnet Council gives nod to Pinkham Way waste site despite angry protests"
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| Link to web site |
"During the meeting, a group of protesters managed to get into grounds behind the town hall, below the room the meeting was taking place, and started chanting “No to Pinkham Way”.
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| Picture: Barnet Eye |
"Councillor Richard Cornelius, who is in charge of planning, told a hostile audience the final decision lay with Haringey Council, and alternative measures were needed to avoid hefty landfill taxes."
Our comment: "Barnet is Barnet"...
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| (Former leader Mike Freer MP, with Lynne) 'This is a local authority for local people, there is nothing for you here!' |
Lynne Hillan, Leader of Barnet Council, at a recent Full Council:
"You won't teach me anything about incompetence."
'Barnet Eye' Video: 29 March: Barnet Council and Pinkham Way
And the Preview of the upcoming 'Barnet Eye - The Movie':
New Aerial View of Site
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| Click to enlarge |
"Friends live so close to this proposed site; terrible choice for such a facility.
"I have used Photoshop to highlight the area proposed – if the area highlighted is correct, you could replace the existing image on your blog.
"Good luck, Matthew."
BBC video: "People have joined forces to stop the building of the UK's biggest waste processing plant"
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| Link above to BBC News |
There is more video at 'Bowes and Bounds',
and past discussion at 'Bowes and Bounds',
and a new aggregation page at 'Bowes and Bounds'.Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Enfield Independent: "Protest expected over new waste centre plan"
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| Link above to web site |
“We urge Barnet, Enfield and Haringey councils, and the four other north London boroughs involved in this madcap scheme, to think again.
“They must come up with something more sensible, that will be better for the environment, better for local council tax payers and voters, and better for London as a whole.”
BBC: "Residents unite against Pinkham Way waste centre"
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| Link to BBC web site |
"Bidesh Sarkar, of residents' pressure group Pinkham Way Alliance, said:
"We are determined to stop this plan in its tracks. We know that the north London boroughs have to deal with their waste, but this is the wrong solution, in the wrong place."
THE SITE'S HISTORY: 'Freehold Community Association, and the planned waste plant on our doorstep'
Dear Haringey Councillors,
Re.: NLWA Proposal for Rubbish Treatment Plant at Pinkham Way
I am writing on behalf of our Association, which has members that are both Barnet and Haringey residents, to voice, in the strongest possible terms, our complete opposition to the proposed development of our open green space into an industrial waste treatment plant.
'Pinkham Way Alliance': Lobby Barnet Council tonight [not forgetting Enfield's Area Forum at the same time]
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| Link to web site |
"North London residents will lobby Barnet Council cabinet members today (29 March) over plans to build a waste recycling site on the North Circular at Muswell Hill/Friern Barnet.
"A decision is due to be made at the cabinet meeting to approve the North London Waste Plan, which includes the building of a 150m long, 23m high recycling plant (plus chimney) within 250m of the nearest dwellings. We have many major concerns about these plans, including massive traffic congestion from 1,200 vehicle movements a day, most of which will be trucks, increased pollution, and the loss of an important green space."
[There is more about both meetings, lower down on this web site]
[There is more about both meetings, lower down on this web site]
BGDRA Meeting: "Lobby Barnet Cabinet, Tuesday 29 March, 6.15pm, Hendon Town Hall"
BOUNDS GREEN AND DISTRICT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION (more details) held a very successful meeting on 24 March, when over 200 people attended.
On Tuesday 29 March, Barnet will be the SEVENTH of the seven north London boroughs, seeking to approve the submission version of the 'North London Waste Plan' for publication. After further minor changes by officers, that would then be released in mid-May by the NLWP office, based in Camden Town Hall. This would be followed by six weeks of 'public consultation'.
There would then be an inquiry by the Planning Inspectorate in the autumn, at which the public could request speaking and cross-examination rights.
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| Click above for details and documents on the Barnet web site. (Map for NW4 4BG is here) |
FROM THE PLAN:
"This proposed submission document of the North London Waste Plan represents an important stage for our boroughs, in achieving a better approach in how we treat our waste. This plan sets out a joint fifteen-year programme to enable waste facilities to be built that are different to those in the past, that are cleaner and better neighbours, and that meet our local needs, while contributing to our global responsibilities.
Tuesday 29 March: Enfield's Area Forum to discuss Pinkham Way
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| Link to Enfield web site |
THE NORTH LONDON WASTE AUTHORITY(Item 4 is: 'A406 BOUNDS GREEN IMPROVEMENT SCHEME UPDATE'.)
To receive a proposal from the North London Waste Authority.
Tuesday 29 March at 7.30pm
Direct: 020 8379 4073. E-mail: kasey.knight@enfield.gov.uk
Monday, 28 March 2011
Traffic along the North Circular in 2050?
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| Euroclick for Eurolink to Eurosite |
Press conference on the adoption of the White paper on Transport 2050:
Today we present our Roadmap for the Future of Transport 2050. Freedom to travel is a basic right for our citizens, and it is critical to the development of a Europe's business sector. We need a competitive European Transport System, which delivers transport for people.
We have meet very challenging goals by the 2050s, [including]:
- No more conventionally-fuelled cars in our city centres, by the middle of the century
- A 50% shift in middle distance journeys, by both passengers and freight, from road to rail and other modes.
Bowes and Bounds: New aggregation page of Pinkham Way items
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| Link above to web site |
"This is a list of relevant local sites, and below, an automatically-updated feed of items that refer to the development."
Kent Online: North London in a few years' time?
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| Click to enlarge |
From Kent OnLine in 2008, also reported by UKWIN.
The NLWA contract - for the next 25 to 35 years - will be for about four billion pounds!
'Zero Waste Alliance UK': "Conserve and recover resources, and not trash them by burning or burying"
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| Link to web site |
'Zero Waste Alliance UK' has published its response to DEFRA’s 'Call for Evidence' in relation to the Coalition Government’s Draft Structural Reform Plan.
Press release: "Haringey Liberal Democrats ask for views on Pinkham Way development"
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| Link to web site |
"It's clear from the many residents' meetings over the past week that many people think they are being left out of a massive decision that will affect their community greatly."Cllr Juliet Solomon (Alexandra ward) adds:
I ask that anybody who is concerned to get in touch, and we will make sure that NLWA sits up and listens.”
"I am still not convinced that council bosses fully understand that local people deserve to be consulted. This is the largest development in this area for years, yet many people feel that their concerns are being ignored."
'ZERO WASTE in Scotland' - or else: "We're doomed, all d-oo-med, I tell thee!"
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| Link to Scottish Government web site |
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| Link to summary of plan |
- the re-use of products,
- the extension of the life-span of products,
- reductions in packaging etc;
- the adverse impacts of waste on the environment and human health; and
- the content of harmful substances in materials and products."
Below is from the Q&A page. The whole strategy seems to effectively reduce current incineration, reduce 'Energy-from-Waste' except gas from organics, and avoid the creation of residual waste incinerator fuel (as proposed for Pinkham Way). It favours waste reduction instead!
Question: "The research on landfill bans identified that out of the residual waste treatment options modelled, Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) with output waste sent to landfill provided the highest net benefit to society. Doesn't this contradict Scottish Government's aspirations to reduce landfill to 5% by 2025?"
Answer: "The landfill bans research does indeed suggest that stabilised MBT outputs sent to landfill perform better in terms of short-term costs to society. However, the 'Zero Waste Plan' takes a wider, long-term view, in order to achieve a fundamental shift in how waste is viewed and managed in Scotland. 'Zero Waste' means making the most efficient use of resources, by minimising Scotland's demand on primary resources, and maximising the reuse, recycling and recovery of resources instead of treating them as waste. Disposing of any materials to landfill is wasteful, and should be avoided wherever possible."
The reality of new-style incinerators in Scotland is maybe given by the UKWIN MAP, and references shown on there.
Sunday, 27 March 2011
Thursday, 24 March 2011
'Haringey Journal' letter and 'Barnet Press' letter
(Click to enlarge, and usually again to magnify)
(Not that it matters, but...
We are informed that this letter was actually sent to the 'Enfield Advertiser', which explains the "New Southgate" reference. The Barnet paper didn't print its submitted "Friern Barnet" version, although changed "Enfield" to "Neighbouring Enfield" lower down.
It just illustrates how any 'Pinkham Way' campaign needs to straddle the three boroughs!)
The Deadly Embrace: a map of the boroughs and the Pinkham Way site...
Enfield's New Southgate plan
"Enfield Council asserts that the concerns of residents, tenants and traders have been taken into account. ... In reality, what is proposed is an autocratic 'developers' charter', without meaningful regard for our views and interests."
The North Circular Area Action Plan (AAP) is being prepared for the area around the North Circular between the A109 at Bounds Green and the A10, and includes New Southgate and the Ladderswood Way Estate. This will set the detailed local planning policy for the area.
Below left: 'Enfield Independent' letter this week.
Map and text: 'Enfield's Design Guidelines' (2009)
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| (Click to enlarge) |
North Circular Area Action Plan
The North Circular Area Action Plan (AAP) is being prepared for the area around the North Circular between the A109 at Bounds Green and the A10, and includes New Southgate and the Ladderswood Way Estate. This will set the detailed local planning policy for the area.
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
The Independent: "Wasted food equals 3% of greenhouse emissions in UK"
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| Link to The Independent |
"The majority of wasted food is sent to landfills where, as it decomposes it produces methane - a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
"The Environmental Protection Agency also highlights the environmental benefits of recycling food waste as compost, including improving soil health and increasing drought resistance."
Daily Telegraph deputy editor blog: "A global energy war looms"
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| Link to Telegraph |
Jeremy Warner, assistant editor of The Daily Telegraph, is one of Britain's leading business and economics commentators.
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
'Freehold Community Association' now a partner in the Pinkham Way Alliance
THE OBJECT OF OUR ASSOCIATION IS...
"To promote, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race, or of political, religious or other opinions, ...
the advancement of education, and the provision of facilities, in the interest of social welfare for recreation and leisure-time occupation, ...
with the object of improving the conditions of life of the inhabitants of the London Borough of Barnet."
The Centre is in use 7 days a week, and available from 9.00am to 11.00pm
"To promote, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race, or of political, religious or other opinions, ...
the advancement of education, and the provision of facilities, in the interest of social welfare for recreation and leisure-time occupation, ...
with the object of improving the conditions of life of the inhabitants of the London Borough of Barnet."
Freehold Community Centre
9 Alexandra Road
Muswell Hill
London
N10 2EY
Telephone 07935-324-578
Email: freehold2003@gmail.com
The Centre is in use 7 days a week, and available from 9.00am to 11.00pm
Questioning your council about Pinkham Way? Then rate them on the 'Blog-O-Matic' Impact Scale ...
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| Link above to the all-seeing 'Barnet Eye' web site |
And for balance, 'Not The Barnet Times', and 'Broken Barnet'.
30 March (NEW DATE): Haringey Borough Traffic and Parking: Informal discussion meeting
"A number of the discussions on the 'Bowes and Bounds Connected' web site have centred on traffic and parking issues. These issues are equally of concern to Residents Associations and other online forums across the Borough. So let's get together and have a chat with our neighbours from Harringay and Hornsey, to see what we could learn from each other.
"Come along to the Starting Gate Pub, N22 7SS, opposite Alexandra Palace Station on Wednesday 30 March at 8pm, for an informal chat about traffic, and meet others concerned about the same issues."
Update: A group has been set up - see details.
Monday, 21 March 2011
What nearly was: The Northern Heights branches
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| Link to Northern Heights web site |
Or see the video!
And below, a possible beginning of light-rail, eastwards across outer North London ...
End the jams in Pinkham Way - use a light-rail bypass!
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| Link to Brent Cross, and transport, web site |
(Extensions east are possible - off-road, along the North Circular Road corridor?)
Barnet Times: "Friends of the Earth put on David Cameron masks for black-bag waste stunt"
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| Link to Barnet Times |
"Friends of the Earth say that if their calls are listened to, waste handling sites at the new Brent Cross Cricklewood development, and the proposed Pinkham Way site, could be scaled back."
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Sunday Telegraph: "A new exhibition rummages through the binbags of history, to explore our relationship with dirt. Hold your nose and investigate..."
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| Link to Sunday Telegraph |
"The history of cities, this Wellcome show attests, is to a large extent the history of how to deal with dirt. The narrative of the Victorians’ protracted wrangling with the problem – and sewage was only the start: there remained the matter of household rubbish, and the overcrowding of the city’s cemeteries – now amazes by the sheer visibility of filth.
"The dust heaps of Victorian London had at least the advantage of being made up mostly of biodegradable waste, or material that could be relatively easily recycled, such as ash for brick manufacture. Modern detritus is notable for its longevity, hanging around in landfills like a vast archive of our throw-away culture."