LETTER: Heston West wakes up to an ill wind from the Colnbrook Incinerator

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 13th Aug 2004

Residents have reacted instantaneously to an item in the latest Lib Dem leaflet distributed in Heston West, about the planned Colnbrook Incinerator. The residents expressed serious doubts about the plans of the West London Waste Authority.

The incinerator can burn 54 tonnes of ordinary waste per hour and one tonne of radioactive waste, making it one of the biggest units in Europe. It will not just take waste from the West London Waste Authority, but also from other sources in the UK and abroad. It is estimated that it could pollute an area of at least 17 miles radius, including Heston West.

Across Europe and America, incinerators are being shut down as increasing medical evidence proves the long-term health and environmental damage caused by them.

Lib Dems are in favour of waste reduction by recycling, and totally opposed to incineration.

We want to put pressure on Hounslow Council, who were originally opposed to the scheme, to stick to their original stance and not give in to pressure from Hillingdon and other boroughs in the West London Waste Authority. We also feel strongly that a consultation exercise should be undertaken before a decision is made by the West London Waste Authority.

There will be a public meeting in Uxbridge on the 19th August.

We will keep the readers informed of the outcome.

Satnam Kaur

Heston Liberal Democrats