Covanta Disappointment - Cllr Tim Hill's Statement
Commenting on today's announcement by Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Councils on the contract award for the disposal of black bin waste, Liberal Democrat Elstow and Stewartby Ward Cllr Tim Hill said:
"Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Councils, having received just two bids for the contract to dispose of black bin waste from November 2020, have awarded it to Veolia, which intends to treat the waste at the Rookery South Energy Recovery Facility.'
"I am bitterly disappointed, just as I was bitterly disappointed when Bedford Borough Council's attempts to block the facility at every stage were sadly unsuccessful. The development should never have been given the go-ahead, and the way local objections were ignored was disgraceful.'
"I fought my hardest alongside so many residents, the Mayor and Liberal Democrat colleagues, and despite the outcome I do not regret a moment of the campaign to stop this utterly inappropriate, oversized facility from going ahead.'
"I want to thank residents once again, and to pay tribute to all the volunteers from Bedfordshire Against Covanta Incinerator (BACI) for their incredible efforts.'
"However, very sadly the development is going ahead. It saddens me that local waste will be going to Rookery South, however if this waste wasn't going there it would simply mean more rubbish coming from further afield.'
"The bids received were evaluated anonymously, in a process run under strict government procurement regulations. Both bids involved the waste being treated by energy recovery, with the Veolia bid chosen in line with the Councils' duty to obtain best value.'
"I will continue to monitor the development works and then the operation of the facility and will insist that any breaches of rules are met with enforcement action and that disruption for our community is minimised.'
"There are no good outcomes following the awful national decisions to approve the development, but I will fight to minimise its impact on Stewartby."