Waste plant views of majority ignored
Sir - Re your front page story ‘Go-ahead for waste plant is a ‘dark day’ (Bedfordshire on Sunday, October 16), surprise, surprise! Many of us, if not all, who attended the public meetings will not be surprised at the Infrastructure Planning Commission’s decision.
The whole tenor of the meetings was, in our view, directed merely to a listening process to satisfy statutory obligations. We left the meetings dissatisfied with the process and convinced that it was something of a charade.
Little, if any, attention was given to the health aspects that will accrue from the vehicular traffic to and from the plant.
This is particularly important as the present increase in asthma is due largely to vehicle exhaust gases, carbon monoxide and ozone (formed from nitrous oxide and hydrocarbon emissions).
The increase of heavy vehicular traffic to and from the plant cannot but add to the load of exhaust gases mentioned.
Most importantly, from the political point of view, this decision has been made by a nonelected commission against the wishes of the majority of the citizens in the immediate, and surrounding, areas and their elected representatives, including their Member of Parliament.
Finally, a question for Tony Hare. The people of Elstow, not so long ago, battled to prevent nuclear waste being buried at Elstow and won! Were they nimbies as he has called those opposed to the Covanta plant? Arthur Bourne and Fiona Church Road, Flitwick
An increasing need
Sir - Re the incinerator at Stewartby, the underlying factor when it comes to disposing of household waste is that there are a lot of people in this area and a lot in the south of England in general and the numbers are set to increase further.
Whether you burn it or bury waste, it’s a job to keep pace and many people still do not recycle properly.
Those worried about emissions should look back to the days of the London Brick Company. In the 1930s, 40s and 50s they had dozens of tall chimneys in yards covering Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire belching out smoke night and day.
It would be interesting to know what the criteria for particle emissions are for the Covanta plant.
C Leonard Miller Road, Bedford
Something in the air
Sir - Now that the Infrastructure Planning Commission has given the go-ahead for the building of the Rookery South Resource Recovery Facility, Bedfordshire will once again have foul smells in the air just like the London Brick Company had done.
My question is will the Center Parcs’ advertisements and booklets contain such information that ‘the wind direction may contain foulsmelling air’ and that ‘there is a risk of carcinogen in the air that might give you cancer if you visit and stay at this site’? What a nice prospect to come to Bedfordshire for a holiday and go back home with a free gift from your stay – cancer.
You’ll never forget your visit to Bedfordshire, will you? Shannon Passfield Moreteyne Road, Marston Moretaine
Vale can survive plant
Sir - Mike Green’s letter (RIP Marston Vale BoS October 16) makes sorry reading.
As we have said throughout the planning process, the Marston Vale Trust regrets the impact that the proposal would have on the Millennium Country Park, but Mr Green’s report of the death of the Vale, is surely greatly exaggerated.
The Millennium Country Park will be extended as a result of the proposal and the Trust continues to work with local communities to create wonderful woodland and wild places for all to enjoy.
The Trust is guided by the Forest Plan, which was produced following consultation with more than 60,000 homes and numerous specialists and expert groups, and which forms the basis of local and regional planning policies. The Forest Plan requires the Forest Team to work with planners and developers to secure the aims of the Forest of Marston Vale.
It is our job to ensure that, when development happens, it contributes its fair share to the creation of the Forest of Marston Vale.
A very significant proportion of the 1,300 acres of public-access greenspace and new woodlands that the Trust has created around the Vale was funded by developer contributions. The popular 550- acre Millennium Country Park itself was only made possible by the donation of the land to the Trust by a developer.
By working with Covanta we have ensured that the development meets Forest planting targets, we have secured design changes that reduced the size and impact of the building and we secured additional screening planting as well as ongoing financial contributions to the environmental aims of the Trust.
Development is rarely popular with everyone but, where it happens, aren’t we better to work with developers to get the best environmental outcome that we can? Tony Talbot Chief executive Marston Vale Trust Thank his lucky stars sir - Not everyone is as lucky as Tim Hill (BoS Letters October 16). I have neighbours waiting for a hip operation.
They had medical problems so had to wait months for tests and then months for results.
Is this because they are elderly and it is hoped they will die or go private or rationing by stealth? They are in constant pain and can barely walk, this is not an NHS that is caring for people properly.
Shirley McKay Alamein Avenue, Bedford
Trying my patience
Sir - Steve Lowe’s musings about how polite and tolerant we Brits are made me feel warm and good inside because I was there when this trait was amply demonstrated on Saturday, October 15 at the Lurke Street car park in Bedford.
On returning to collect my car I was horrified to see a queue extending from the doors of the car park all the way back to the roundabout opposite Lidl’s. I joined the end of the queue and waited patiently – well not really patiently – to arrive at the ticket machines inside.
After about ten minutes I was almost there with just one couple in front of me . . .
“Have you got the ticket?” inquired one of them. “No, you have it,” replied the other.
After much fumbling, searching of pockets and handbags and what seemed like light years they found their ticket. They had been in the queue for more than ten minutes but were still unprepared when they got to the ticket machine. I demonstrated my British politeness and tolerance by resisting the temptation to throttle them and boot them out the door.
Some people seem to be surprised when Christmas suddenly looms up in front of them and others haven’t got the idea that you have to have your purse and money to hand when you have purchased a load of shopping. I’m not sure I can keep the politeness levels up for a lot longer.
Austin Horne Barton Road, Bedford
Cuts ‘disaster’ looms
Sir - Am I the only one to think that we are sleep-walking into massive cuts to our public services without comment or protest? On top of £16 million savings last year, Bedford Borough Council is now being required by the ConDem Government to make a further £36m savings over the next four years. The borough council is presently consulting on 206 proposals to make these savings, including: Reducing home care packages – £525k Reducing learning disability spend by ten per cent – £440k Increasing parking charges – £155k Reducing town centre public toilets (from five to two) – £116k Lowering the age for free swimming from five to three – £22k Increasing cemetery and cremation fees – £85k.
It’s going to cost you more to learn, play, shop, ‘spend a penny’, grow old and die.
I think you’ll agree that we will all be affected by one or more of these cuts. Even these savings will only contribute £24.4m to the £36m savings required by the Govern-ment, leaving a further £11.6m to find.
Inevitably job losses will follow, with all the misery that this will bring to those individuals and their families, not to mention the knockon effects this will have for the local economy.
If it is not abundantly clear that the ConDems’ national austerity measures are having a devastating impact on our economy and society, it should be clear that the impact on our community will be equally disastrous.
If you feel that this is wrong contact your local councillor, make your voices heard, your views known, and then join Bedford Against Cuts @BedfordACuts on Twitter.
Richard Baker Newnham Avenue, Bedford
Don’t axe our Ranger
Sir - The people of Goldington would like to congratulate Gary Burchmore our local street ranger for the unstinting work which he covers in our area.
We residents really appreciate the efforts which he puts in for us. He is never too busy to stay and chat to an elderly person or to lend a helping hand. The borough could never afford to pay for the complete service which he has given to this area for many years. The appreciation of the residents has been shown with Gary being put forward and receiving an MBE.
The borough should take this as praise of its services and not have it on the list of services which it might cut. I hope after reading this the rest of Goldington will join in campaigning to keep Gary and our Street Ranger service.
Gloria Jakes Stainmore Road, Bedford Make EU views known sir - Now is the time for our MPs to be counted and show that they answer to us, the voters, and not their party.
Very soon Parliament is to vote on whether to hold a referendum on the EU and figures in the establishment want to stop such democratic nonsense. Whether or not you believe in the EU we can all agree that it is time the voters had their say as to whether we should be in or out of the EU, and, if in, should this be on today’s terms or on some new renegotiated basis.
The older generation voiced their view on joining a Common Market but nobody has asked if we should join a political and economic union. This can now be rectified if our MPs agree to a referendum on the subject.
We were cheated out of our say on the Lisbon Treaty by all the leading parties so I urge all voters to make their views known on this matter to their own MP.
Ray Seymour Calder Rise, Bedford
