Worried Residents Make their Voices Heard at Covanta Protest

After speaking in the first session of the Infrastructure Planning Commission's 'Open Floor Hearings' being held this week on the Covanta incinerator application on Tuesday, on Wednesday night I attended a residents' protest prior to the final session at Stewartby Village Hall. I made some brief comments to those who had come to make their voices heard as the IPC Commissioners arrived for the hearing. Deputy Mayor Cllr Charles Royden also spoke, as did Ward Councillor for Elstow and Stewartby Tim Hill. The strength of feeling amongst local residents was, naturally, extremely powerful. What really comes across from residents is that they recognise that new forms of waste treatment are needed to replace landfill, but that this monstrous proposal is the wrong answer, in the wrong place. The protest was organised by the Marston Moreteyne Action Group, who have campaigned tireslessly, and have been extremely effective in helping residents to make their voices heard. I hope the IPC commissioners were listening to them on Wednesday.

The Times and Citizen's website has a video recorded at the protest, with footage of one or two of the speakers, including my own brief comments, and messages from residents of all ages! It can be found here: http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/local/video_covanta_protest_1_2838950

The Marston Moreteyne Action Group's website also has a number of photographs from the protest, and useful information about the application protest: http://mmetag.wordpress.com/