Letter: MPs should speak for the people
Wednesday 5th August 2009, 8:44AM BST.
Letter: I was amazed to read Lee Brazier’s letter of July 30, which berated our Shropshire MPs for speaking up on behalf of their constituents.
At his public meeting on the incinerator in March, Daniel Kawczynski made it quite clear that he was unable to take a stance on any matter unless his constituents wished him to do so – there was only one voice in support of this incinerator, and that was ex-councillor Eileen Sandford.
He was bombarded with letters asking for his support. Incineration is simply not the answer because there are other much less invasive and cheaper methods to provide energy, either to the gas main or to the electricity grid, whilst at the same time reducing landfill.
The incinerator, if built, will burn 24/7 for the 35 years of its life, requiring expensive chemicals to clean the flue gases but still emitting toxic substances into the atmosphere and producing toxic ash which requires special handling. Not to mention the 78,992 tonnes of CO2 produced from the 90,000 tonnes of waste it will burn each year – what is green about that?
It is not just our Conservative MP who is against incineration, but also, I believe, the Labour and Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidates, the Green Party, Friends of the Earth, and, of course, the large number of local people who, like me, have asked Daniel to act on their behalf.
There is nothing “nimby” or “Luddite” in wanting the very best and latest technology to deal with our waste.
I cannot speak for the people in north or south Shropshire who have asked their MPs for assistance, but it is refreshing to have an MP who actually takes on board the concerns of the vast majority of his constituents.
Mr A N Hall
Shrewsbury
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‘‘Not to mention the 78,992 tonnes of CO2 produced from the 90,000 tonnes of waste it will burn each year – what is green about that?”
I’ll tell you my small minded friend –
Current landfill emissions predict if 90,000 tonnes of waste is buried each year it would produce 124,013 tonnes of methane, a much more potent greenhouse gas.
I’m all for debate but can’t stand people who bring no alternative to the table!
Landfill or Incineration…
Or should we strap our waste onto rocket ships and send it to the moon!!!
Get a grip!!!
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i agree burning waste is a bad idea for the environment, we should do more recycling instead and then look at greener options for the residues
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i agree daniel is a good MP and he’s veiws are in line with the vast majority here which is after all the whole point of an MP to speak for the people and represent his voters
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nice pic
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this is a good letter and i fully agree with it, not just that an MP should reflect public opinion but that the incinerator is a dangerous and dirty project which must be stopped
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hes on the right side, this burner is bad news
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Mr Green has completely missed the point of my letter, which was to point out that the campaign against the Battlefield Burner was not confined to one particular group or party; it was not meant to give alternatives, which have been well documented elsewhere, eg, in the Shropshire Star and the Shrewsbury Chronicle over the past few months, in the objections sent to Shropshire Council, and even in Veolia’s own planning application. Our MP had a meeting with the Chief Executive of Veolia UK, who stated that incineration was not the only available option and that Veolia had a wide range of options for discussion; this was reported the Star on 18 June. Finally, I wish to point out that I have never advocated landfill as an alternative and never will.
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A British MP representing the views of his constituents? – I missed this one as I was away, but surprised it didn’t make the international news.
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hear hear
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i know in the US we are trying to move away from incineration because of the fumes and the health impacts, you would be mad in Shrewsbury to buy in to such a provenly dirty, dangerous and failed technology
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shropshire county council has been shown up by other councils who already recycle 60% there unambitious aims to recycle & burn 50:50 may have seemed good 5 years ago when they planned their strategy but now we expect 75:25 for the sake of the environment, there is now more than ever the need to recycle more because we need the energy as we run out of oil we cannot keep making new stuff, we must recycle more and burn less because recycling saves more energy than that burner could ever create
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I wondered if any of the greenies could advise me how I can recycle plastics, other than bottles, e.g. old lawn mowers etc?
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