Thanet Nature Conservation Umbrella Group

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 6th SEPTEMBER

AT THE WALPOLE BAY HOTEL. CLIFTONVILLE

1. PRESENT

D Neville, John Mitford, J Gledhill, S Windsor, H Windsor, Mrs J Pain, R Hills, T Holmes, Mrs M Arnett, Mrs V Hovenden, J Mannering, G Roberson, Mrs W Carr, Mrs Z Cohen, Mrs S May, Mrs McCoy, Ashley Palmer, Simon Palmer, Miss Vera Elliott, Tony Child, David Neden, Mrs E Randall, John Roland, Mr & Mrs D Bush, Nigel Collingwood, Chas Matthews, Peter Brivio, David Sworder and Dr Jack Cohen (Chairman) and David Ledger.

2. APOLOGIES

Colin Bridge, Dr Stephen Ladyman M.P, Roger Gale M.P, Dr David Cooper, Peter Forrest, Alisdair Bruce, Rosemary Quested and Paul Verrall.

3. PROPOSED INCINERATOR

A talk was given by Mr Ian Hargreaves, BSc, Director of Sustainable Environmental Systems Limited. Mr Hargreaves said that he had been Chairman of the HaIling Action Group, which had stopped the nearby waste incinerator being developed there. He wondered if perhaps that action precipitated the Richborough proposal. The meeting was informed that planning permission has been given for a waste incinerator at Allington, Maidstone.

Mr Hargreaves went on to say that he felt there is no need to incinerate waste and explained that there were four priority areas for stopping problems in the world (a) climate change; (b) nature and bioversity including protecting natural resources; ( c) environment and health and ( d) sustainable use of natural resources which include minimisation of waste. There are 1.2 tonnes of waste per household per year generated in the United Kingdom. The production of waste is rising at some 2-3% per year and therefore will double within 10 to 20 years. Most waste can be recycled only if there is a market that will accept it. He showed a diagram of a breakdown of waste and showed that there is some 18% of "other" waste for which it is not possible to either re-use or recycle and therefore will have to be thrown away. All other products including paper, cardboard, glass, textiles, metal, plastic etc. can be sorted and recycled. Rigorous targets were now in place through legislation such as the Packaging of Waste Regulations, EC Directives and Waste Strategy 2000. Mr Hargreaves went on to show that the targets for recycling and recovery for businesses and local authorities. These were increasing with time and would be more difficult as the amount of waste is on the increase as the targets themselves increase.

He felt that Kent had tried to depend on burning waste in their future strategy to deal with waste. This has already met a problem in the Medway area with the Halling incinerator no longer being allowed. He saw the need to manage waste as well as reduce it. He promoted the implementation of the cyclical system like nature. He went on to explain how an organic eco-cycle would work and also an inorganic eco-cycle which included the effective use and costs, repairs and use of non-hazardous materials.

Mr Hargreaves went on to state the case against incinerators which included the fact that if a hundred thousand tonnes of waste go in, 25,000 tonnes of ash comes out from one point leaving 75,000 tonnes to go out through the chimney and cause pollution. He cited a study from 1996 which showed that there is an increased risk of cancer which was worse at a distance of 1 kilometre from incinerators. This he quoted as Dr Pete Elliott, Et Al from British Journal of Cancer (1996) 73. Some affects were biocumulative and may take some 10 years to materialise. Other studies cite problems from PCBs and dioxins, not all these were carcinogenic but studies show that they can affect human development.

He then went on to talk about community composting as an example at Softwood, Folkestone. He then described in some detail an American Composting System by a company which originated in Sweden. This is called the Bedminster System. There is a three day composting process in revolving chambers using microbes and keeping the materials at specific temperatures. The whole site sorts all the waste and therefore does not need householders to separate the waste at source. The particular plant he quoted achieved 75% recycling. They put in 100 tonnes per day and only 18% is left which then goes to landfill.

He then went on to describe how plastics can be made into something called "plascrete" and the plastic replaces the stone element in concrete. Plascrete has now got uses as roof tiles, block pavings for drives etc. Mr Hargreaves then answered questions from the floor. Other comments which came from the questions included the costs of landfill do not truly reflect the environmental costs to the earth. They currently are too cheap making landfill the current favourable option.

There were also comments from the floor about the power of supermarkets who dictate to farmers what can be put on the land and to manufacturers how much packaging there is on the products. The meeting felt there was a need to lobby the supermarkets to redress the balance.

There was also a lot of discussion on the Bedminster System and it was considered by Mr Hargreaves it would be cheaper to build such a plant than an incinerator. The present costs do not necessary equate at the moment, as from the building of an incinerator, electricity can be sold to the National Grid at a long term fixed price, recouping some of the initial investment. The meeting also heard that Kent County Council have in the past not been interested in seeing the Bedminster System being operated in this County. The Chairman thanked Mr Hargreaves for his most enlightening talk and he was well received by the meeting. The Chairman then asked for a show of hands about whether the meeting was in favour of incineration as an option for this area. The vote was unanimous against the use of incineration. The meeting also agreed that a letter would be sent to Kent County Council showing the outcome of the vote.

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

Page 1 item 3 should read Conservation Strategy Group instead of Conservation Steering Group. The Chairman asked Vera Elliott what the situation was with the strategy and she said that as people had been on holiday there had been no movement in the production of the strategy.

Item 7: It was decided at the last meeting that a public meeting would be called about the incinerator. It was asked if the public meeting had been held. The Chairman said that this meeting was the only meeting and it was agreed that if an appeal was lodged against the planning refusal that a public meeting would be held at the earliest opportunity.

Item 9: Civic Pride. David Ledger asked that the minutes be changed from: there was no Council officer willing to attend ........ to Council officer able to attend. This was agreed by the meeting.

Item 5: Chairman's and Vice Chairman's Reports. The Chairman stated that he had nothing to report and the Vice Chairman was not in attendance and hence had nothing to report.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Vera Elliott mentioned a few items including

1. "Livescapes Programme" there was a meeting being mainly organised by Kent County Council at a hotel in Hollingbourne and she was concerned that the choice of venue meant that there was no public transport that gets close to the venue. If anyone wished to attend she had details.
2. Vera stated that Quex Caravan and Touring Park site is to expand doubling its size and there will be inevitable loss of woodland. There is a planning application (01/682) and she has details if anyone wishes to follow this up with comments.
3. She reported on a bid for feasibility on Thanet Countryside and Coastal Project Research. It is presently being firmed up and it is thought that there will definitely be grant available. She invited a volunteer to come forward to carry out research.
4. She reported that there had been a few problems with the cycle track, which has been laid at Minnis Bay. Concerns apparently include the spoil having been placed on or to the rear of the butts, the siting of the track itself and noise. If anyone wanted more information once again she would be able to help. The Chairman thanked Vera Elliott for all her work over the last few years and the meeting duly gave her a round of applause.
5. Tony Child introduced himself to the meeting and he has recently been appointed Thanet Coastal Park Project Officer. He explained a little of his work and he is working at Thanet District Council and invited anyone to contact him.
6. It is reported that there will be a meeting of the Southarnpton to Rarnsgate South-coast Access Road plans at Birchington Village Centre on 3rd October 2001. This is being organised by a Company called Halcrow. There was a previous meeting held in July also at Birchington and this would be a follow-up meeting and one of many held throughout the region. The start is likely to be early, at least 6.00 or 5.30. This has not been widely known and some Members had been to the meeting, but only found out by chance.
7. The group Residents' Objections Against Richborough Incinerator (ROAR) circulated their second newsletter "The Burning Issue".

6. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The date was set for Thursday, 15th November 2001 and the meeting agreed that it would be kept as an Annual General Meeting and that there would not be a speaker for this particular meeting. The Chairman said that due to earlier problems with the venue this year it has now been agreed that all the meetings will be held on Thursdays in the Ballroom of the Walpole Bay Hotel.

The meeting closed at 9.20 pm.

To find out more about Thanet Nature Conservation Umbrella Group (TNCUG) Tel/Fax 01843 847421 or Email

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