Campaigners say they will not “go quiet” after two meetings with the Environment Agency (EA) were cancelled over proposals for an incinerator in the town.
The STOP Heighington Lane Incinerator campaign group are protesting over a waste incinerator that could open in Newton Aycliffe.
The EA is set to consider an environmental permit application later this year, which would allow the developer Fornax North East (Ltd) to send burnt waste into the air from a 100ft chimney.
The company said up to 10,500 tonnes would be incinerated per year at its new site in Aycliffe Business Park, but previously insisted there were “no environmental health or amenity issues”.
After two meetings with the EA were cancelled, members of the campaign group have said they will continue the fight not to have the incinerator open in the town.
Paul O’Connor, one member of the group, told The Northern Echo: “The Facebook page is building by the day, but I just get the feeling that if we go really quiet on this, we slow things down, this could go through, and no one will be watching.
“It just feels like, as local residents, who is watching out for us? Who is supporting us? Who is protecting us when we’re asleep? It just feels like we’re being left and the EA who publicise themselves as being for the people, they couldn’t be further from that”.
The group have had two meetings with the EA cancelled by the agency. The first meeting was due to take place on June 16. This was cancelled and rescheduled to June 30, which was also cancelled by the EA.
And Paul said the cancellations are frustrating as it feels as if residents’ concerns are not being heard.
Paul O’Connor, Karen Everson of STOP Heighington Lane Incinerator campaign group and Lib Dem Councillor for Aycliffe North and Middridge Michael Stead (Image: LORAINE HENDERSON) He added: “Residents are really scared, worried and confused about the whole process. We talk about incinerators, emissions, air dispersion, all very complicated stuff. There are a lot of people in the area that it will affect.
“The EA have called it an “issue of high public interest”, so they have got to expect there will be a lot of people who have a lot of questions and concerns. I guess the biggest concern for us is they are quite willing to meet Fornax and brief them on how to apply for a permit, whereas the residents this incinerator is going to impact have not had that level of attention and care from the EA”.
The group claims anyone living within a 12-mile radius of the incinerator could be affected, as well as wildlife.
The campaigner said: “This is being built next to schools, nurseries, offices. I get it is a business park, there are some industrial units there, but there are also coffee shops.
“We know incineration is a part of the plan, but why build it so close to Heighington Village, School Aycliffe, Newton Aycliffe, Aycliffe Village where there is schools and workplaces.
“My wife works across from the business park five days a week, what is the incinerator going to do to her health? Our concerns are valid, especially when you see what they’re proposing to burn”.
He added: “There is local wildlife too, we were down the other day and there were swans, newts. All the wildlife will be affected by the incinerator”.
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Paul finished by reiterating the group will not go quiet or back down over the plans, telling the Echo: “If no one had made a storm on this, the EA would have happily passed it through, took the monthly annual fee and moved on to the next one. That is the general feeling we have had working with them”.
Gary Wallace, Area Environment Manager at the EA, said it will explain the permitting process for those responding to the online consultation at the Great Aycliffe Town Council meeting on July 9.
He added: “We have extended the consultation until 18 July to give people more time to digest the information and make their representations. Once the consultation is closed, we will make our technical assessment based on the application submitted”.