Residents concerned about proposals to build in incinerator on one of two sites in East Leeds will be able to have their say and find out more about the during special local drop-in sessions next week.
The open sessions have been set up for people living in the Richmond Hill, Osmondthorpe, Halton and Halton Moor areas, but anyone is welcome to drop in. Council officers will be on hand to talk through the plans and answer questions about the plans to build a household waste treatment facility for Leeds.
The proposals have led to the formation of a local pressure group, No2Incinerator, which has held a couple of public meetings to voice their concerns about the proposals. Reports from those meetings can be found here and here.
The campaigners have previously criticised what they say is a lack of consultation and information on the proposals.
Two companies - Aire Valley Environmental and Veolia - are currently working with Leeds Council on bids to provide waste treatment facilities for the city at either the Knostrop sewage treatment works site or the former wholesale market site on the Cross Green industrial estate.
The council is not expecting to choose a bidder and site until the summer of next year.
Booklet distributed to residents
A detailed booklet explaining the process and providing answers to questions commonly asked by residents has also been posted to people in the vicinity of the proposed sites, along with details about the drop-in sessions.
They take place as follows:
* Tuesday October 5, 12-8pm, at the Edmund House Club and Institute Ltd, Pontefract Lane;
* Saturday October 9, 11am-4pm, at East Leeds Leisure Centre, Neville Road, Halton;
* Tuesday October 12, 12-8pm, at St Philips Church Hall, 60 Osmondthorpe Lane.
Susan Upton, head of waste management for Leeds Council, said:
"We want local people to come along, express their opinions and find out as much as possible about what this scheme is all about.
"Their views are vital to informing how the two bids are put together and for their concerns to be addressed by the bidders."
Incinerator campaign response
Sarah Covell, from the No2Incinerator Group, said:
"At the last Richmond Hill forum residents and No2 Incinerator members insisted that further information be made available to local people and stated that the previous information sessions for local residents had been badly advertised and planned.
"No2 Incinerator therefore welcome the drop in sessions for members of the community to view the proposals regarding the proposed Private Finance Initiative Incinerators.
"Anybody who wishes to join the No2 Incinerator campaign is welcome to join us at The Hope public house on York Road at 7.30pm on Wednesday 13 October. Please email no2incinerator@gmail.com or look at our blog for further information and latest newsletter. For residents who are interested in wider community matters here is a local site dedicated to local community issues."
A council spokeswoman said that anyone unable to attend the sessions can still tell the council what they think or find out more by writing to or emailing the project team. Include your name, address and telephone number and preferred method of contact and someone from the team will get in touch with you. You can also register to receive more information during the project.
Email: leeds.waste@leeds.gov.uk
Write to: Leeds Residual Waste Project, Environmental Services, Freepost RLXJ-ZYHY-GRSG, Leeds City Council, Knowsthorpe Gate, Cross Green, Leeds LS9 ONP
Visit: www.leeds.gov.uk/recycleforleeds
What do you think? Does the consultation go far enough? Have your say in the comments section below.
