NO WEY INCINERATOR campaigners have responded forcefully to last week’s Herald article in which Veolia stated the constriction of a new advanced energy recovery facility off the A31 near Alton would create jobs and cut carbon emissions.

Ben Stanberry, spokesman for the campaign, said: “The claim the plant will create 40 permanent jobs actually means a loss of 25 local jobs, as the facility currently employs 65 people.

“Veolia also states the plant will save 65,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per annum, but fail to point out that the incinerator will still generate 330,000 tonnes of CO2 every year, right in the middle of the Alton area.

“This flies in the face of decarbonisation commitments and the operation will also create 10,000 tonnes of Air Pollution Control Residues (ACPRs) per annum.

“Veolia’s own environmental statement in the planning application classifies this as hazardous waste.

“Pollution in the Wey valley would also be further increased by 79,000 HGV movements in and out of the site every year, bringing commercial waste up from the South Coast where most of it is produced.

“It is not even local waste that would be burnt there, yet we would suffer the consequences.

“Elsewhere in their application they also claim the incinerator will generate usable heat, but where could it be used?

“No user has been identified, so this should be disregarded.

“This is an isolated rural site, less than a mile from the South Downs National Park, which claims stunning landscape, dark starlit skies and breathtaking views beyond its boundaries.

“To get an idea of just how far-reaching the negative impact of this incinerator would be, take a look at the map in Veolia’s planning application.

“It shows quite clearly the 80m chimneys, and their even higher plumes of smoke, will be seen over a vast area, from Farnham to Four Marks and all the villages around Alton.

‘We are urging everyone to object now, and are doing a house-to-house leaflet drop this week outlining the most effective planning objections.

“This information will also be posted on our website www.noweyincinerator.com.”