No to incineration, say local Lib Dems

11.50.01pm GMT Tue 26th Jan 2010

Local Lib Dems are totally opposed an incinerator in our area

There should be no incinerator in either Plymouth or the South Hams, according to the city's three Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidates. What is needed instead, they argue, is firm action to cut the amount of waste that is produced in the first place.

Plans are currently progressing for an incinerator to be built in either Devonport's North Yard or Ernesettle, in Plymouth, or New England Quarry, near Ivybridge. All councils are under pressure to cut the amount of waste that goes into landfill because every tonne is taxed, with the tax increasing every year. There are also European targets on countries to cut landfill waste.

"We stand in full-square opposition to a new incinerator. Burning rubbish should be the last resort, not the first," said Stuart Bonar, the party's parliamentary spokesman in the new seat of Plymouth Moor View. He continued, "We are rushing headlong towards building a massive incinerator when we should instead adopt much more ambitious plans to cut the amount of waste we produce. That would mean much less rubbish needing to go to landfill without us having to resort to incineration. Do that and we can avoid having a big, ugly incinerator slap-bang in the middle of our city, belching out fumes that will float over our homes and schools.

"This is all very possible. Plymouth has cut the amount of rubbish it produces by over 20,000 tonnes in just three years. That's a cut of over a fifth in no time at all. Taking that further just needs ambitious political leadership."

The Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for South West Devon, Anna Pascoe, commented, "Conservative MP Gary Streeter is on the record calling for an incinerator to be built in Devonport. He has also spoken about bringing in waste by ship. Is this really the vision Conservatives have for this corner of Devon? As the incinerator would be operating for 25 years, this is not a decision for the Tory councillors to take lightly. Residents have clearly spoken out against incineration, it is not a forward-thinking technology."

Dr Judy Evans, the party's prospective candidate in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said, "Added to all this, Labour has yet to rule Plymouth out as a nuclear dumping ground for all the radioactive waste that comes out of our old nuclear submarines.

"We oppose Gary Streeter's call for a local incinerator and we demand that Labour rules out designating Plymouth a nuclear dumping ground.

"The Liberal Democrats are the only party committed to a green future for our city. We want Plymouth to be a city that people want to come to, in which they want to live and work, and somewhere for people to come for a nice break. With the right political leadership this city will have a bright future."