'Pinkham Way Alliance' says demonstrate: Tuesday 12 April, 6.15pm, Hendon Town Hall: Barnet votes on North London Waste Plan!

"Most of the 'Pinkham Way Alliance' committee will be at this demonstration – there is a group of 20-30 people that has been meeting each week, so it's also a chance to talk to us face-to-face!"

"Tuesday's Council will be attended by all sixty-three Councillors. On the agenda is to approve Barnet's 'Local Development Framework' (including the 'North London Waste Plan') as agreed by Cabinet on 29 March.

"If approved, the 'North London Waste Authority' will feel able to submit the planning application to Haringey Council for the Pinkham Way site, jointly with Barnet Council.

"Why are we protesting? To let our local elected Councillors know that we are not happy with the lack of proper community consultation, and the lack of independent scrutiny. The publicity generated by the last protest helped us to raise community awareness, and the momentum for our campaign is growing rapidly. The coverage by the BBC, the Evening Standard, and the local papers has done more to engage local residents in a week, than two years of careful manouvering by the NLWA.

"If the Council chooses to shift responsibility for the welfare of the residents it represents to the NLWA and Haringey Council, we will be seeking a review of how these planning proposals, with so many stakeholders involved, are carried out.

"The Council meeting begins at 7:00pm. If possible, please assemble from 6:15pm onwards, at Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs, London, NW4 4BG. The meeting's agenda is here."

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Our view: If you attend, and make it to the public gallery, please record the Waste Plan agenda item on your mobile (just of the council members in the chamber, not of people in the gallery, for privacy reasons). Or take a few still pictures, or make an audio recording. Please send your files to this web site. (It is not unlawful to make these recordings - see the 'Barnet Eye' web site and other bloggers.)

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Click to See All Posts.

'Pinkham Way Alliance' appeals for "specialist skills"

"If you are a resident (or, even if not...) and have specialist skills which we can utilise to help fight this proposal, please contact us."

That is, barristers, solicitors, town planners, environmental experts, traffic engineers, health experts, journalists, ...

Link to 'Pinkham Way Alliance'.

Well, Bedford doesn't want our incinerator fuel, thank you very much!

Link to Twinwoods web site

WHY DOES “TWINWOODS ACTION GROUP” OPPOSE INCINERATION?

• It depresses recycling and wastes resources
• Releases greenhouse gases
• Is often forced through, in spite of strong public opposition
• Relies on exaggerating future quantities of waste, instead of promoting increased recycling and composting
• Creates toxic emissions and hazardous ash, which pose significant health risks. Toxic ash has to be landfilled anyway, so the landfill problem does not go away!

WHY SHOULD LOCAL COMMUNITIES SAY NO TO THIS INCINERATOR?

• Many incinerators have been plagued by dubious cost effectiveness and technical failures, sometimes leading to illegal levels of pollution
• Incinerators produce greenhouse gases and heavy metals such as lead, as well as acids and other highly toxic substances. These include dioxins which are cancer-causing
• No guarantee that government standards are adequate
• Not enough research has been conducted into understanding the impact of emissions and toxic ash on health
• The onus of monitoring emissions and reporting any breach of legal limits is on the operating company. In some cases, illegal emissions can go unnoticed for significant time periods
• Air emissions travel great distances. If you think you live too far away to be affected, you are probably wrong!
• House prices may plummet
• Your health may be at risk.

'Pinkham Way Alliance' raises possibility of 'mission creep'

"The NLWA is not very happy about the Alliance describing the proposed Pinkham Way development, if built, as being 'one of the largest MBT sites in Europe'. The NLWA, at its recent board meeting, suggested there were bigger sites.

In the spirit of myth-busting, we would be grateful if the NLWA could pass on that information to us. There is an MBT site already in London, and there is one in West Sussex that will be bigger, but it is not in operation yet.

Frog Island, London

Location: Ferry Lane, Rainham, London RM13 9YH

Opened in 2007, the Frog Island MBT was commissioned to process 180,000 tonnes of waste a year from the boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge. An incinerator is now being added. The site is located in an industrial area. [See previous report on MBT and Frog Island.]

Link to Biffa web site

Brookhurst Wood, West Sussex

Location: Langhurstwood Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 4QD

Expected to open in 2013, the Brookhurst Wood MBT was commissioned to process 327,000 tonnes of waste a year from West Sussex County Council. The Council have signed a 25 year contract with Biffa, to operate the site. In their press release dated 30/6/2010, and before waste processing has even begun, Biffa is already talking about the construction of an incinerator on the site. The site is surrounded by fields, more than one kilometre outside the town of Horsham.

Pinkham Way?

To be clear - we are not expecting the NLWA to include an incinerator in their planning proposal to Haringey - but we are understandably wary, because of what has subsequently happened at other sites.

Part of the problem is that the market for 'refuse derived fuel' (RDF) is not very well established, and there is an increasing supply of RDF. [We add: ... and an increasing level of opposition to new incinerators - see UKWIN.]

In these circumstances, where it may become difficult to sell RDF, there is a stronger economic argument for [on-site] incineration. If you would like to read more about MBT, and arguments for and against, 'Friends of the Earth' have published a paper on the subject."

The NLWA HAS sort-of-considered an incinerator at Pinkham Way...

Quote from the NLWA:

"... neither the Pinkham Way, nor the Hendon [Brent Cross] environs offer any realistic prospect of connecting a Combined-Heat-and-Power (CHP) facility to a district heating network.

Lynne Featherstone MP: "Email me..."

"The proposals for the Pinkham Way development are causing deep concern amongst local residents.

The North London Waste Authority (NLWA) want to build a giant waste treatment plant and vehicle depot at Pinkham Way. It is huge. It will process the waste from seven local boroughs. It will be one of the largest biological and mechanical treatment plants in Europe. 

North London Waste Authority: The Empire Strikes Back!

Pinkham Way update  7 April 2011

"We note residents' concerns about the proposed development at Pinkham Way, and we are considering their comments and determining any adjustments to the scheme as we prepare the planning application documentation. This includes feedback received at the public exhibitions held in February, and emails received at Pinkhamway@nlwa.gov.uk
We would also like to clarify a number of matters where we think there might be some misunderstanding about our project:

Pictures of the 'Muswell Hill and Friern Barnet Waste Plant'?

"Eastcroft Incinerator opens its doors to the public"
Link to BBC web site

(Our editorial:) This series of pictures gives an impression of what is intended for Muswell Hill and Friern Barnet ('mechanical biological treatment' to create incinerator fuel, maybe at 700degC), then carriage by large lorries along the North Circular Road (not shown!), then burning in an incinerator next to Brent Cross shopping centre.

The alternative is to create greatly reduced NEED for waste disposal, year by year - see the Zero Waste Alliance UK web site. We certainly should not be building giant 'incinerator-fuel plants' like Pinkham Way, or building incinerators to replace any current landfill - please see UKWIN and GAIA web sites.

"Reduce - Reuse - Recycle" -> Remove need for Pinkham Way!

Pinkham Way Alliance: New Poster. Sorted.

Evening Standard: "Waste agency: Relax the rules for giant plant"

Link to web site

"In documents, the North London Waste Authority states: 

"There may in some instances be difficult decisions to be made, trading off CO2 benefits against job creation or economic benefits.

The authority therefore recommends that waste facilities should be exempt from any such policy."

Pinkham Way Alliance issues new leaflet

Click above to enlarge.
(Pages as displayed are '1-2' and '3-4'. They would actually be printed as '4-1' and '2-3', for a folded leaflet.)

Haringey Journal (3), Haringey Advertiser (2), Barnet Press (same text), Enfield Advertiser (same, so a letter instead), Enfield Independent, and Ham & High

 (Click to enlarge, and usually again to magnify)

 (Click to enlarge, and usually again to magnify)

Report any untidy mop of blond hair, and the council will come along and fix it

" 'Love Clean London' makes it easier for Londoners to report environmental crimes, receive feedback from London boroughs on progress, and save London boroughs money."

Link to the 'Love Clean London' website

More details at The Telegraph.

'Dawn on Enfield': Pinkham Way comments invited

Link to 'Pinkham Way' post on the web site

"If you want to comment, find out more, or get involved with a pro- or anti- campaign, do get in touch, or use some of the links in this post to get in touch with a particular group.

"My research suggests that the Conservatives, Greens, Labour and the Lib Dems all have concerns about the site, but each standpoint varies from borough to borough."

Editorial: Why not TWO planning applications? Who benefits from just ONE?

We think it might be worthwhile, trying to separate the NLWA planning application from the Barnet planning application. They do not HAVE to be taken together! 

People would be able to give their views on Barnet's fleet of diesel dustcarts on their doorstep, separately from their worries about an incinerator fuel production plant. 

Remember that the dustcarts do not HAVE to move from Mill Hill East, or if they do (because Barnet wants to sell the land for housing) the borough could find somewhere else - IN BARNET!


There are Freedom of Information Act requests outstanding, to clarify the sale of land from Barnet to the NLWA, and whether it is free of conditions (like planning approval). More on this subject will no doubt follow, but feel free to rattle their cages yourself.

(The NLWA insists that it owns the freehold now of its part of Pinkham Way, with no conditions. But without planning permission, it is a very expensive nature reserve. Why did it insist on purchase so soon?)

P.W.Alliance: "Why is Barnet supporting the NLWA proposal?"

"Another myth busted, Councillor Clyde!

"Why is Barnet supporting the NLWA proposal? Some people think it is the £12 million that Barnet was paid for the land by the NLWA, but that’s simply not true. That may sound like a lot of money to ordinary people like me or you, but for Barnet, the amount is relatively small.

"The real value for Barnet, is the land that is freed up at their existing facilities in Mill Hill East (see below). They get to park their fleet of vehicles in Haringey, develop the land in Mill Hill for a bundle, and collect a steady stream of council tax forever more!

Mill Hill East depot (click to enlarge)
Also: Mill Hill East website

"To quote from the minutes of the Barnet Cabinet special meeting, held on 11 August 2009, section 3.2:

"The proposal will further support the Council’s priorities by providing a site to relocate the parking of the Council’s refuse fleet and recycling facility, from the present location at Mill Hill Depot. The depot relocation will assist the Council to unlock the development potential of the existing Mill Hill East site…"

"But don’t believe us, here’s a link to the minutes which you can read for yourself."

Enfield Conservatives express "Deep Concerns" over Pinkham Way

Enfield Conservative Councillors, along with local residents, have deep concerns about the impact of the proposed Pinkham Way waste plant, on the environment in the area, in relation to pollution and traffic.

We are sceptical about the viability of the proposed scheme, and we are not convinced by the location of the site, which is very close to residential areas, and in a natural valley. There is also grave concern about a 70ft chimney being erected in this valley, and the resulting pollution, especially in certain weather conditions.

Finally, we are concerned, with residents, over the uncertainty over the processes which will be carried out at the plant. These have not been decided yet by the NLWA, since it is still engaged in the bidding process with contractors.

We don’t feel anywhere near enough input and consultation with the public has been done by the NLWA, and it has not fully understood the concerns of local residents. The traffic impact on the A406 could also clog up the road again, removing any benefit from the improvements now being carried out.

As a result, we are requesting a public meeting, to facilitate much more dialogue.

Henry Lamprecht, deputy leader of the Conservatives on Enfield Council, said:

"It is completely unacceptable for North London Waste Authority to come in with their 'It’s a done deal!' attitude. The residents of New Southgate, Bounds Green and Coppets will all be directly affected by this. We're not going to just stand by and let the NLWA dump half of North London's rubbish on our doorstep. We will fight this all the way."

North London Newspapers: "Residents fight to stop new waste centre on their doorstep"

Link to North London Newspapers

Colin Parish, a journalist from Sydney Road who helped form the Pinkham Way Alliance against the proposals, stated:

"Nobody we have spoken to is in favour of this. Local people are very angry and worried."

Mark Petticrew, a professor of public health, who also lives in Sydney Road, warned noises and smells coming from the plant could be just the start:

"Gasses such as nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide [monoxide?] and methane have potential health impacts. Noise is another issue – the process uses mechanical drums, running 24 hours a day."

North London Waste Authority meets: Objectors to Pinkham Way have their five minutes

A report of the 5 April meeting is on the Pinkham Way Alliance web site (under NLWA in its left-hand menu). It includes:

"A deputation from the Pinkham Way Alliance was allowed to attend the North London Waste Authority meeting at Camden Town Hall and make a brief statement...

"Speaking on behalf of this deputation I must say categorically that I am appalled by the lack of consultation that this Authority has carried out, regarding your proposals to locate a waste treatment plant at Pinkham Way, which would be one of the largest of its kind in Europe.

...

"The negative impacts on all Town Planning issues are too numerous to mention here within the time available, but suffice to say that this alien intervention of a mega-industrial waste treatment plant, in a predominately residential area which has a certain suburban quality, is a complete aberration."

"In response, Councillor Clyde Loakes mentioned that the NLWA would be distributing a ‘myth-busting’ flyer to local residents. ... The only other Councillor to respond was Brian Coleman, representing Barnet, who was quick to comment, for the benefit of the other Councillors, that the Pinkham Way site was the ‘Friern Barnet Sewage Works’. ... It is [now, however,] a grade 1 site of local ecological importance (reference: Minutes of Barnet Cabinet special meeting, 11 August 2009)."

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['Pinkham Way Incinerator' notes that the debate on Camden Town Hall's marble staircase afterwards(!) included discussion of "Zero Waste" as one worthwhile avenue to follow, as well as the more direct arguments against the Pinkham Way plant.]

Lynne Featherstone MP: "Meeting mums worried about development at Pinkham Way"

Link to Lynne Featherstone on Flickr

Lynne Featherstone MP, meeting concerned Bounds Green and Alexandra residents Tara Ryan, Lisa Barnes, Sakina Chenot, and Parveen Rizvi, about plans to build a waste processing plant at Pinkham Way in Bounds Green, Hornsey, April 2011

'PINKHAMWASTE' web site explains 'MBT'

Frog Island in East London

Click photo for 'PINKHAMWASTE' web site

(Frog Island now wants to build an incinerator next door!)

'PINKHAMWASTE' also provides a 'Jargon Buster'.

'North London Waste Plan' jumps the gun - Barnet has to approve publication first!

The Pinkham Way site (including Barnet's part)

"A new version of the 'North London Waste Plan' will be published on 11 May. 

"The new version will take in to account the comments received during the last round of consultation (see report on consultation here). All those who have previously submitted responses will be contacted once it has been published. To be added to the list, email us at feedback@nlwp.net. For the latest timetable, click here.

"The North London Waste Plan is at a very early stage. The proposed timetable for plan development is shown below. Please note the changes to the timetable, which have been caused by unforeseen delays to the preparation of the plan.

• Preparatory work on issues and options – 2007
• Consult on issues and options – Jan/Feb 2008
• Consult on draft plan (preferred options) – 14 Oct - 24 Nov 2009
• Representations on submission version - May 2011
• Submit to Government – Oct 2011
• Examination in public – Jan 2012
  
• Report from planning inspector – Apr 2012
• Adoption of plan – July 2012
  

"The scope for public involvement in different stages is set out in Have your say."

Common Cause with Brent Cross - where they will burn the Pinkham Way incinerator fuel!

Link to incinerator details

(2009 poster)

'PINKHAMWASTE' web site gives a "Summary of the Position To Date"

Link to 'PINKHAMWASTE'

"We have referenced some websites at the end of the Summary that you might find useful – particularly those that explain the function of a 'Mechanical and Biological Treatment plant' (MBT). The picture [above] is a typical example of an MBT.

"Please check out the dedicated page on PINKHAMWASTE that decribes the functionality of an MBT, if you want to learn more about the technology."

NLWA: "Sites and Planning" document

Link to NLWA information...

"The North London Waste Authority has identified four sites for the delivery of waste management services, one site in the east of the area, and three in the west of the area..."

[Our comment: ...from the list of current and proposed waste sites, presented to it by the seven north London boroughs, in their 'North London Waste Plan']

Bowes and Bounds: Transport group set up, following meeting

Link to Bowes and Bounds

"This group is a place for local people - from Bowes and Bounds and beyond - to share information and resources about traffic and parking across our area."

It follows a meeting on 30 March.

Ham and High: "Residents fight to stop 'ugly' waste plant plans"

Link to 'Ham and High'

"Barnet has been trying to sell off this land for 40 years. It stands to gain millions for a site that would otherwise be worthless. But they don’t realise that, for us, it's priceless.

"This plant would be the biggest of its kind in the UK, and it would result in massive disruption in our lives and the lives of our children."

(This is an on-line version today, of press cutting last Thursday, below.)

"Roll Up, Roll Up! Meeting of North London Waste Authority!"

Next meeting of the North London Waste Authority

10.30am, Tuesday, 5 April, 2011

Camden Town Hall, Argyle Street,  
WC1H 8NJ

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The agenda is here.

There is virtually nothing in the public part of the meeting. However, there is an item called 'DEPUTATIONS'.
(No, we don't know what that means, either.)

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UPDATE: We know now!

A.17 DEPUTATIONS

'North London Waste Plan': Consultation was in late 2009. This report is from March 2010. The 'Submission Version' (to government) will be open for public comment from mid-May 2011

This report summarises the responses received to the consultation carried out on the draft North London Waste Plan (NLWP), which is officially known as the Preferred Options report.

 
The responses reported on here are being used to inform the development of the next version of the plan.
 
 
Former Friern Barnet Sewage Treatment Works, Pinkham Way, Haringey:

• Concern about the inclusion of this site was expressed by a significant number of local residents and a range of local organizations, including Hollickwood School, Colney Hatch Residents Association, Bounds Green Residents Association, Hollickwood Community Development Association, Barnet Green Party and local Friends of the Earth groups.
• The main concerns expressed relate to access to the site (particularly the potential use of residential streets by vehicles using the site), traffic congestion, impacts on residential amenity, health, nature conservation and impacts on the adjacent play area and nearby school and community centre.
• Natural England expressed concern about the potential impacts on two Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) on the site.

We will consider whether this site should remain in the Plan in the light of the issues raised relating to groundwater and biodiversity, and specific local issues relating to access, amenity and other local impacts. We will also seek assurances from North London Waste Authority that if the site were developed under their current ownership, they would be able to provide access from the slip road off the North Circular, as assumed in our site assessment.

The decision about whether the site remains in the Plan will also be made in the context of a wider review of the overall need for sites in the light of the new waste projections which have been announced by the Mayor since the draft Plan was published.

'Waste Management & Recycling Today': "Residents Unite Against Pinkham Way Waste Center" (sic)

Link to EIN Presswire

(The industry will be aware of Pinkham Way - and the opposition!)

Muswell Hill & Fortis Green Assoc.: Description of the Pinkham Way pre planning consultation

Link to web site

"In May a Consortium of Barnet Council and the NLWA will be making a major planning application to Haringey Council.

"We must acknowledge that a major industrial plant is being planned, for one of our unspoilt and green residential spaces. We need to campaign against what I see as the greatest threat to our environment, in the thirty years I have been living in Muswell Hill."

Daily Telegraph: "40pc of all waste recycled now"

Link to Daily Telegraph

"Lord Henley, the environment minister, said:

"This is great news that we want to see continue, and as part of the waste review we're looking at how to make it even easier for us all to do the right thing."

"Becky Slater, 'Friends of the Earth', said:

"The spectacular growth in recycling over the last 10 years has helped Britain save cash, tackle climate change and create thousands of new jobs.

The Government should make more recycling possible in our homes and workplaces, and aim to halve the rubbish that has to go into our black bin bags by 2020."

'Sustainable Cities': "Copenhagen is no longer using landfills as a general solution to its waste problem"

Link to web site 
(inside the new Pinkham Way?)

"Waste is better utilised through incineration than through landfills, but recy­cling is an even better option.

"Of course, the best option is prevention of waste production altogether, which often requires direct reuse. The less waste, the better – it’s as simple as that."  

- 'Copenhagen Waste Solution', City of Copenhagen (2008)

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[We say: Incineration is a waste of resources, especially plastics, and stops higher recycling rates - do not choose to build incinerators!]

'Independent': "The threat to wildlife from debris floating in our seas"

Link to 'Independent' web site

"Humans currently produce 260 million tons of plastic a year. When pulled into the sea's currents, plastics do not biodegrade, but are broken into smaller pieces which are consumed by marine life."

"The biggest rubbish 'swill' is the North Pacific Gyre, the 'great garbage patch' the size of Texas, and containing an estimated 3.5 million items of detritus, ranging from toys to toothbrushes."

Daily Telegraph: "Waste plant in Denmark that blows smoke rings and has a ski slope"

Link to Daily Telegraph
(smoke rings on the North Circular?)

"A new power plant planned for Copenhagen is designed to blow smoke rings and double as a ski slope. The facility has been announced as the winner of a competition to design a waste-to-energy plant for Copenhagen, with expected completion in 2016."

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[We say: Replacement incinerators may be unavoidable, but increased capacity needs to be opposed.]

1 April: The government's DEFRA updates its 'Waste and Recycling' documents (well, its list of them, anyway)

Link to DEFRA web site
"37% of household waste was recycled in 2008/09,
compared to 14% in 2000/01."

PLUS: 

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is carrying out a complete waste policy review

 [influencing Haringey's Planning Committee???]

"All the comments and suggestions received, both online or through the 'Call for Evidence', will be considered and fed into the Review. The early results of the Review will be made available in Spring 2011." [Not yet!]

Press Statement by Secretary of State Caroline Spelman, July 2010:

"The path towards a 
zero waste economy:

waste review launched"

Reminder of our newspaper advert of twelve months ago (in Barnet Press or Times) - we tried to warn people!

(courtesy of Brent Cross Coalition)

(It was unclear what was proposed at Pinkham Way at the time.)

Evening Standard letter

(Click image to enlarge)

EuroWaste - at least someone is counting it

Pinkham Way is proposed in a wider world of studies and policies!
These are figures in a recent EuroStudy, for instance. (You will not want to read the full thing.)

Total waste generation in EU 27 countries in 2006: 

2,954 

million tonnes

of which, 

Total generation of waste by households: 

218 

million tonnes

 (Most is by 'construction/demolition', then by 'mining/quarrying'.
Pinkham Way would also take commercial waste, 
where it is collected by the boroughs, and maybe more.)

Overall total used for incineration: 

128 

million tonnes

Overall total going to landfill: 

1,349 

million tonnes

Recycling rate of households in 2005: 

33%

(varies widely between countries)

That's enough figures.

'Barnet Times': Local bloggers in First Day of April pranks

Link to Hammerson's 'New Brent Cross'
or look up for the incinerator chimney fumes,
or look down for the 29.000 extra cars a day!