Lewes MP Norman Baker questioned the government on the floor of the Commons yesterday over its support for East Sussex County Council's Local Waste Plan, which will result in vast numbers of lorries carrying waste passing through Newhaven.
East Sussex County Council had suggested it would use rail to bring waste to its hugely unpopular incinerator, but in reality, virtually every deposit will come by road, resulting in a huge number of lorries passing through Newhaven, and an increase in the total carbon emissions caused by the Waste Plan, with all the air pollution problems that will generate. The local NHS Primary Care Trust objected to the incinerator for precisely this reason.
During Oral Questions to the Communities and Local Government Department, Norman Baker told the Commons:
"Does the Minister share my concern that some of the promises from East Sussex county council, especially about its disliked incinerator, have simply not been carried through?
"For example, it promised that the incinerator could be accessed by rail, but in reality every deposit will come by road, with a lorry passing through Newhaven every two minutes. What can the Government do to ensure that the county council pays some attention at least to the environmental effect of its actions?"
The Minister responded by stating that the government "expect local plans to be based on a strong understanding of the potential for supplying energy to local developments by renewable and low-carbon technologies. We publish practice guidance to help do that and to show how it can be done."
Norman Baker later commented:
"Not only is East Sussex County Council forcing an incinerator on Newhaven against all local public opinion, it is adding insult to injury by not carrying through the idea of requiring waste to be taken to the site by rail. The Council has repeatedly shown that it is prepared to treat Newhaven with contempt.
"If the government is to give funding to the Council in connection with the waste plan, then it must ensure that the Council has regard to the consequences of its actions."
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