'No evidence' to prove Shrewsbury incinerator free from risk

There is not enough evidence to prove that a planned £60 million incinerator in Shrewsbury is free from public health risks, the town council has claimed.

Waste firm Veolia is appealing for permission to build the burner at Battlefield Enterprise Park. Town clerk Helen Ball told the appeal councillors were concerned about claims from the company that the site would not affect residents nearby.

"While the appellants stress that incinerators do not pose a danger to the public, the town council considers that there is not sufficient research to justify such a stance," she said.

"A number of individuals and organisations have raised health and air emission issues as concerns during the application process and it is understood these will be raised during the inquiry by expert witnesses."

She said the town council considers these opinions should be 'taken into account and appropriate weight attached'.

Her statement followed a claim by Rhodri Price Lewis QC, the lawyer representing Veolia, that the Waste Strategy for England 2007 advised there was no credible evidence of 'adverse health outcomes for those living near well-managed incinerators'.

He said there was no basis for rejecting Veolia's burner plan on the grounds of pot-ential health risks or issues of air quality.

Mrs Ball added that public perception of the planned site should also be considered.

"Local residents have expressed great concern about the potential pollution and additional greenhouse gas emissions, the impact on health and agriculture and the damage to Shrewsbury's growing reputation as a food centre," she said.