'Pinkham Way Alliance' announced

Link to web site

"What we want"

It’s very simple; we want Haringey and the North London Waste Authority (NWLA) to hold a proper, open debate with all residents, community groups, schools, businesses and conservation groups (Natural England and Friends of the Earth) on the subject of waste management and recycling across Haringey, to arrive at a solution that we can all agree on.

To do this we demand:

• The current planning process, that includes the Pinkham Way site, is suspended immediately
• A panel is formed to represent the interests of local residents, community groups, schools, businesses, conservation groups and other stakeholders (such as the Mayor’s office) in open meetings with Haringey & NLWA (and other boroughs as required)
• Open meeting to take place to discuss waste management and recycling across Haringey (and other London boroughs as required)
• Only when a consensus view is reached by the Steering Group do any (revised) plans proceed.

On the 'Pinkham Way Alliance' web site (under 'NLWA'):

"The top 10 things they don’t tell you (there are many more)!"

Contact the Alliance at: PinkhamWayAlliance@gmail.com

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Link to See All Posts.

The Guardian; two books: "The Way We'll Live Next" and "The World in 2050"

Aerotropolis: "Lindsay and Kasarda dismiss the idea that air travel should be curtailed, due to concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, as fatal for economic growth. Similarly, fears about peak oil are countered by the prospect of synthetic fuels. If the oil really does stop flowing, then they believe electrification of cars will allow reserves to be prioritised for aircraft."

The New North: "In 40 years' time, global warming will have transformed the planet. Despite technological advances and a growing diversity of energy sources, including renewables and nuclear, the world will still rely heavily on fossil fuels. China is currently building two coal-fired power stations a week, 'equivalent to adding the entire UK power grid every year.' Shockingly, coal will become the world's primary energy resource, with demand tripling by 2050."

'Alexandra News': "Rubbish Consultation," says Councillor

Link to web site

"An Alexandra Councillor says not enough is being done to consult residents on the proposal to build a waste facility in the area.

"The North London Waste Authority (NLWA) and Barnet Council have put forward plans to turn a site at Pinkham Way into an area for processing up to 300,000 tonnes of rubbish a year.

"The plans also include a depot for refuse and recycling vehicles, to be used by an estimated 540 vehicles a day."

'GAIA' worldwide campaign - Pinkham Way need not produce incinerator fuel!

Click for web site

GAIA is an international alliance that works both against incinerators and for safe, sustainable, and just alternatives.

Our name reflects this dual purpose:

• The Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance: Mobilizing grassroots action against the spread of incinerators and other polluting, end-of-pipe waste technologies.
• The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives: Building the movement for environmental justice, local green economies, and creative zero waste solutions.

GAIA has members in over 20 European countries, who are working to stop the advance of incineration and implement zero waste programmes. Learn more. 

Incinerators: "Myths -v- Facts"

In recent years, the incinerator industry has tried to expand their sector by marketing their facilities as “Waste to Energy” (WTE), using misleading claims of “reducing climate pollution”, and being a “clean energy source”. This document dispels some of the most common myths about incinerators with real facts:

http://www.no-burn.org/downloads/Incinerator_Myths_vs_Facts.pdf

No need for Pinkham Way, if there were more of THIS!

Link to The Guardian 'Germany series'

"Located in the south-western state of Rheinland-Pfalz and set in the heart of Palatinate wine-growing region, the predominantly middle-class, medieval town of Neustadt boasts the best recycling rates in Germany. Over the past 30 years, the town has nurtured and refined a system that means it now recycles about 70% of its waste – 16% higher than the state target. By comparison, UK recycling rates average about 40% – up from just 5% in the mid-1990s.

"At the recycling depot, one of the town's waste managers Stefan Weiss moves on to the subject of enforcement. Or rather, the lack of it.

"In theory, we have the power to fine people if they don't sort their waste. But we never do this because it costs too much to investigate. And we just don't have an issue with flytipping because we make the system so cheap and easy to use. We still get the odd complaint about the move to fortnightly collections, or that our bins are ugly, but that really is about it."

London Crossrail station in secret location in Bedfordshire (web site and BBC video)

Link to 'London Reconnections' web site

...or see the BBC video.

21-27 March: 'Haringey backing Climate Week 2011'

Link to Haringey web site

"Climate Week will be the first event of its kind in the UK, and will bring together more than 180 organisations, including local authorities, businesses and community groups.

"Cllr Joe Goldberg, Cabinet Member for Finance and Sustainability, said:

"Haringey is leading by example in the fight against climate change. We were the first major authority to sign up to the 40:20 carbon reduction aim; have pioneered an annual carbon report; are supporting a low carbon zone pilot project in Muswell Hill, and ... continue to invest in measures to reduce our carbon footprint and generate long-term savings in energy costs."

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Muswell Hill, Alexandra, Fortis Green and Highgate Area Assembly:

    The draft minutes of February meeting are here.

Wood Green Area Assembly (Bounds Green, Woodside and Noel Park):

    The draft minutes of February meeting are here.

No more meetings for now!

    See details here.

Our comment: Manufacturers CAN change their ways, like this - but legislation will speed up change

Link to 'The Independent'

"The Independent: The battle for environmental supremacy among plastic bottled, carbonated beverage-makers, is on.

"PepsiCo announced earlier this week that it had developed the world's first plastic bottle made entirely from plant-based materials - a clear show of one-upmanship to their closest rival."

'Barnet Times' letter, 'Enfield Independent' article and letter, 'Enfield Advertiser' article, and Haringey Journal letter

 (Click to enlarge, and usually again to magnify)

'Your Bowes [Enfield] councillors': "Pinkham Waste Park brainstorm - an electric fleet? And more for ecology in Enfield"

Link to 'Your Bowes councillors' web site

(Alan Sitkin, Yasemin Brett, Achilleas Georgiou)

"We're fielding increasing expressions of concern in Bowes re: the NLWA project.

"Some are based on an error that we can simply dispel - there is no incinerator - but others are entirely valid, particularly worries about added traffic on the North Circular having a negative impact on air quality.

"... if we can reduce [packaging] there will be a lesser need in the future for sites like Pinkham Way. Addressing the symptom of a problem is fine, but attacking the root cause is even better."

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[Last sentence: our emphasis.]
By the way, all three major parties have now been reported on this web site!]

'NORTH LONDON WASTE PLAN' - We say: how can Haringey possibly grant planning permission before this policy document is agreed?

Link to web site

When you can be involved:

Members of the public, and local organisations, can be involved in several stages of the plan timetable. Please note the changes to the timetable, which have been caused by unforeseen delays to the preparation of the plan.

'North London Waste Plan - Preferred Options' for Autumn 2009 public consultation: Potential sites map, and assessment of Pinkham Way

(Click both to enlarge)

Map of potential new waste sites

Assessment of Pinkham Way site

The large, complete document, containing both of the above, is at
http://www.nlwp.net/downloads/po_technical_report.pdf

British History Online: 'Friern Barnet Public Services'

Link to 'British History Online'

"The sewage farm was on 30 a. in Wood Green and Edmonton, adjoining Cromwell Road in the Freehold, as only there could the parish process its own sewage. Able to serve 30,000 people, and discharging a purified effluent into the brook, it was regarded in 1891 as a great credit to the designer, Baldwin Latham. The surplus land was used for rubbish and allotments. The asylum's pipes were connected to it in 1898, and in 1932 it was altered to make room for the North Circular Road."

Complete document: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 6 - Friern Barnet, Finchley, Hornsey with Highgate.

Link to 'County Asylums'

Friern Hospital
Link to Barnet archive

'UNFINISHED LONDON': Episode 1: THE TUBES; Episode 2: THE RINGWAY ROADS

See the light-rail alternative!

Haringey Council: 'Proposed waste facilities' (from a Freedom of Information Act response)

Information on sites for disposal of domestic waste

As you may be aware, Haringey Council is involved in preparing a Joint Waste Plan, together with the six other boroughs within the North London Waste Disposal Authority (NLWA) area, in their capacity as planning authorities (Camden, Islington, Hackney, Barnet, Enfield and Waltham Forest).

The North London Waste Plan (NLWP) includes overarching policies on waste planning and identifies sites for future waste management facilities.

300 years of fossil fuels...

Haringey Journal: 'Letter to The Editor' produces comment

Link to newspaper web site

"This needs to be built somewhere, as long as the good folk of London insist on producing large amounts of waste. Bleat as we may, we're all producing this waste.

"It isn't all being done by 'someone else', it's you and me mate. Why should our waste be burned in someone else's backyard instead?  
Sincerely, Sean Hayes."

(See other newspaper cuttings on this web site, as well)

Daily Telegraph: "New subsidy for green boilers"

Link above to Daily Telegraph

"Chris Huhne, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, expected at least 25,000 households to take up the scheme in the first year, with millions of air source heat pumps and other technologies installed over the next 20 years.

"Environmentalists and consumer groups ... wanted to make it easier for consumers to take up the scheme, to encourage more green technologies, rather than incinerating waste or wood, which can cause emissions, and discourage recycling."
[our emphasis.]

Evening Standard: "We need architects who understand this city"

Kieran Long: 10 Mar 2011

"While modern architecture is often seen as the problem, you don't see people throwing street parties to celebrate the completion of the latest Prince Charles-inspired brick boxes, or the latest estate of executive suburban homes, either. A long time ago, the development industry lost the public's confidence. Think of St George Wharf in Vauxhall, one of London's ugliest buildings, or the overbearing blocks appearing now at Hale Village in Tottenham.

"It is not conservative taste that drives the public's scepticism, but the often negative transformation of the city into a place of monocultural housing blocks, with cheap supermarkets on the ground floors. These are not what London is made of."

Link to Evening Standard.

Enfield's New Southgate Masterplan

Click above for PDF file

"The Pinkham Way site is identified in the North London Waste Plan as a potential location for a waste management facility. The site is in Haringey, but Enfield residents will be consulted on the plans for the site as they progress as it is close to the borough boundary.

The application is being made jointly by the North London Waste Authority and Barnet Council, as the site will deal with Barnet’s waste. [That's not the reason.] A public exhibition was held at St Paul’s Church Hall, New Southgate on Wednesday 16th February.

For more information. please contact: North London Waste Authority, 020 8489 5599 or email: communications@nlwa.gov.uk.

Bowes Park EcoTeam underway

Click above for the original details of this EcoTeam, 
published two weeks ago

This week, we held the first meeting of the Bowes Park EcoTeam, at OneTwoEight, (Myddleton Road, Bowes Park) where residents came together to explore ways in which householders can:

• Reduce our carbon footprints
• Save money, potentially, on our household bills.

There is still time for householders in the Bowes Park/Bounds Green area to join, before our first topic meeting takes place at the end of the month.

You can join the Bowes Park EcoTeam in two easy steps:

1. Sign up at: http://www.ecoteams.org.uk/user/register to join EcoTeams
2. Visit: http://ecoteams.org.uk/og/subscribe/1192 to join my team, Bowes Park EcoTeam.

If you would like to find out more, please contact Adam at adampaul128@gmail.com or 07841 457243. Our first topic meeting will be held towards the end of March, and more details will be available from the EcoTeam and Bowes and Bounds website.

An earlier EcoTeam news item is here.

LWARB: "£3.7million boost to make it easier for flats’ residents to recycle." WELL DONE, ENFIELD

Click for press release

"The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) has today (Wednesday 9 March) announced that 294,000 flats will get improved recycling services thanks to grants from LWARB totalling £3.7million.

"Enfield will use [its share of] the funding to roll out a food waste collection service to 9,000 flats. This will include the installation of food waste bins as well as providing residents with liners and caddies to store and carry food to the onsite facilities."

[This is a Phase Two list of borough receiving payouts, making now 26 out of the 32 London boroughs. Barnet and Haringey have never been awarded anything!]

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Link to 
Food Waste 
story

'London Waste and Recycling Board'

Link to LWARB web site

The London Waste and Recycling Board was established by the GLA Act 2007 to promote and encourage:

• the production of less waste
• an increase in the proportion of waste that is re-used or recycled
• the use of methods of collection, treatment and disposal of waste which are more beneficial to the environment in London.

Board members include:

Cllr Clyde Loakes

A Councillor for the Leytonstone Ward in Waltham Forest for the past 12 years, Clyde has a deep understanding of the workings of local and national Government and how policies are developed and shaped, to deliver for local residents and communities. Ambitious and energetic, Clyde has enviable networks and a passion for excellence and improvement in public services, as well as a strong commitment to and deep understanding of partnership working and community engagement.

Widely respected in local government circles across the political spectrum, Clyde stood down as Leader of Waltham Forest in May 2009, after 6 years at the helm. As well as acting as the Chair of the North London Waste Authority for the past 3 years, he is the Regional Peer for LGA Improvement (formerley the IDeA), the Environment Portfoilo Holder in Waltham Forest, a member of the London Waste and Recycling Board and he has recently been appointed as Deputy Chair of the LGA's Environment Board.

'Barnet Press', 'Barnet Times', 'Enfield Advertiser' and 'Ham & High'. Then 'Haringey Journal' NLWA letter.

(Click to enlarge, and usually again to magnify)

Leaflet produced by 'A Barnet Resident' ("They seek him here, they seek him there, ...")

Click above to enlarge
(and usually a second time to magnify more)

NLWA considers Pinkham Way, due to opposition at Brent Cross (September 2010)

"Setting the Scene..."

Waste plant descriptions from the 'Brent Cross Cricklewood' developers' web site:

Click above for Brent Cross Cricklewood proposals
(Picture is just the possible waste collection on-site,
so a minor part of the waste quantities involved)

A state-of-the-art waste handling and recycling facility will be built, replacing the current ageing [NLWA Hendon Rail Transfer Station] facility from which most of the waste is sent to landfill sites. This will separate and sort all recyclable materials first, and then pass the remaining un-recyclable waste through a treatment cycle which will generate a renewable fuel.

This fuel will then be used in a new 'Combined Heat and Power Plant' which will provide electrical power, district heating and cooling to buildings across the regeneration area. [Our comment: This is a gasifying incinerator in all the developers' documents. And can anyone possibly justify calling domestic waste 'renewable'? Only in the sense, there is always more to follow!]

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"There May Be Trouble Ahead..."

Potential Waste Facilities - NLWA letter of 6 September 2010

Geron Way - Overview

Current Hendon Rail Transfer site

"The property developers [Brent Cross Cricklewood Development Partners - actually just Hammerson now] secured a resolution to grant outline planning permission for the BXC regeneration proposals on 19 November 2009, which included the demolition of the current Hendon RTS and the provision of a new waste treatment facility on the other side of the railway line at Geron Way.

"During the development of the Authority’s application to the Government for financial support towards new waste treatment facilities, it was decided that our outline business case (OBC) should provide for the waste treatment facility that might have been built at Geron Way to be built at Pinkham Way instead. There may however still be a need for a waste transfer facility at Geron Way if it is decided to transport residual wastes, recyclable wastes, and/or solid recovered fuel (made from residual wastes)."

Pinkham Way - Overview

"As noted above, the Authority is considering this site for a waste treatment facility, but not for a rail transfer station, as the site is only able to accommodate a treatment facility and depot due to topographical and space constraints, and due to the greater suitability of the Geron Way site for rail transfer, if it is needed in the future."

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Click for Further Brent Cross and Pinkham Way information,

or See All Posts.

The Guardian: "Air pollution in areas of heavy traffic shortens life expectancy"

Link above to The Guardian

"The high concentration of many fine particles, largely due to emissions from diesel engines and heating systems, knocks almost two years off the average life expectancy of residents of Bucharest, and six months off the life of Parisians."

Statement from the PINKHAMWASTE Group

PINKHAMWASTE has been set up by a group of residents living close to the proposed Pinkham Way development, so we reside mostly in Haringey, Barnet and Enfield.

The purpose of our website initially was to act as a 'depository' to share information - but NOT to be a blogspot. [Sniff. No offence taken.]

We have suffered before from covert council antics, which thrive in divide-and-rule, paucity of information, and lack of transparency. The e-petition has been added, in preparation for a united response to the statutory consultation, which is yet to be issued.

The 'Pinkham Way Incinerator' blogspot's continuing work regarding the policies of the NLWA is of real interest to us, and thank you so much for the work you have done to date. [Ah, shucks!]

Many of the contributors to PINKHAMWASTE are ecologists, and are already lobbying groups such as Natural England.

However, what really concerns us is what has been changed quietly, behind the scenes. It appears that the NLWA has been writing to Haringey over many months, getting it to change planning and development rules, to allow it to do as it likes with the site.

So for example, the restriction on any development of the site:

“needing to consider the ecological value of the site and being part of a green corridor”

has been modified to:

“unless there is a strategic need that overrides the ecology value of the site."

The physical site has also been changed to be part of the 'Bounds Green Industrial Estate', and therefore construction only needs to meet low industrial standards. It is exempt from the Haringey rule:

“no burning /incineration to be allowed in the borough, due to the existing poor air quality."

We totally appreciate that you are dealing with a much bigger programme [the NLWA area] that will ultimately be of huge benefit to us all.

Do please keep in touch when you can, and many thanks again.

PINKHAMWASTE

pinkhamwaste@gmail.com

Bounds Green & District Residents' Association activity

Link to the Association web site

"Lots of lorries? An ecological improvement? A potential eyesore?


"A special residents meeting is taking place in The Sheridan Hall, Scout Park, Gordon Road, N11 on 24 March at 8pm, to outline the potential impacts. Click here for a map.


"The bgdra urge you to attend the meeting to find out more and get involved. Your views deserve to be heard, and this meeting will help make sure they are."

Update 24 March: 

See the results of this meeting, here!

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The Association has been in existence now for over 75 years, having been founded in 1933. Even then, it was felt that there was a need to protect the environment, and the Association continues along that path today.

The catchment area of the Association is bounded by: Rhodes Avenue in the north; Albert Road and Dunsford Road in the east; Gordon Road, Passmore Gardens and The Drive in the south; and Hillside Gardens in the west. The Association has members in at least four hundred homes.

You can email the Association at: bgdra.email@gmail.com

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June update: See a later letter to the press, here.

New web site published: "PinkhamWaste"

Link to web site

"PINKHAMWASTE! has been launched primarily by those who have concerns about the proximity of such a facility in the middle of suburbia.

"The paucity of information, particularly for those living adjacent to the planned waste depot, has prompted a need for more informed and cohesive communication. It is imperative that residents' feedback is timely and focussed."

Petition started: "Pinkham Way - Say No to Waste Facility & Depot"

Click above to link to the Petition

"I object to the proposed planning applications submitted to Haringey Council for the development of the following at Pinkham Way:

1. Waste Management Facility submitted by the NLWA
2. Depot facility for the refuse trucks and operators’ vehicles submitted by Barnet Council.

On the grounds that:

• I consider myself to be at risk of harm from the proposed developments
• There has been no Statutory Consultation
• Homes, schools and neighbouring recreational facilities, including public parks, a golf course and allotments, will be invaded by vermin
• The local road network cannot sustain a daily flow of 560 garbage trucks
• The smell and noise pollution emanating from garbage trucks, particularly those parked over night will cause tangible distress to residents
• My property will be devalued
• The delicate and rare wildlife established on the site will be destroyed.

The petition with the above wording is at:

www.ipetitions.com/petition/pinkhamwaste"

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Link to See All Posts.

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Comments made by the first 120 or so signatories on the petition are shown below.

Comments: I think it’s time for a judiciary review – not least to ascertain how the price for the land was achieved.

Comments: This massive industrial development will totally destroy a valuable part of the green corridor linking Coppets Wood / golf course / tunnels / bluebell wood / allotments / Albert Road park and the rare plants inside. We should not be destroying our limited and very valuable green spaces; we should be preserving and enhancing them.

'Ham & High' (twice), 'Haringey Journal', 'Enfield Advertiser', and 'Enfield Independent' (twice).

(Click image to read, and usually a second time to enlarge.)