MORE than 1,600 people have signed petitions against proposals for a waste incinerator in Newport, although no firm plans have been decided on the scheme.

Already residents have joined forces and formed the Stop Newport Incinerator Campaign, as well as a group set up by Conservative councillor Martin Kellaway against a possible development on Bowleaze Common, land south of Llanwern Steelworks, out of fear it will send toxic waste into the air and have a negative impact on wildlife and the surrounding area.

But the incinerator plan is just one of three options submitted by Veolia ES Aurora Ltd for an Energy Recovery Facility for the Prosiect Gwyrdd contract – a joint initiative by five councils, including Newport, to cut the amount of waste sent to landfill. But the two campaign groups are calling on the Welsh Government’s new environment minister John Griffiths – who is also the assembly member for Newport East – to put a stop to the proposal now.

Stop Newport Incinerator Campaign (SNIC) chairman Rob Hepworth, said incineration was a “dirty solution”

to waste management and wants the Welsh Government to look at alternatives.

The Bishton community councillor said the proposed site could pose threats to wildlife in the area – a large part of which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest – and could also be a public health hazard to the housing development planned for the Llanwern regeneration site.

Conservative councillor Martin Kellaway, who launched his campaign against the plans last month, said he has nothing against the principles of Prosiect Gwyrdd but is opposed to the type of incineration proposed.

He too is calling on Mr Griffiths to stop the plans. He said: “John Griffiths has the ultimate power now, we want a yes or no to this type of technology and we can stop all this now.”

But speaking at yesterday’s full council meeting, Labour councillor Allan Morris accused campaigners of “scaremongering”

local people as it was not yet known what type of plant could come to the area – if one came at all.

Three companies are currently bidding for the Prosiect Gwyrdd contract with different schemes proposed in Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport. A preferred scheme is due to be chosen next year.

EDITORIAL COMMENT: People have right to know

WE CAN understand why residents in Newport are already expressing concern about proposals for a waste incinerator in the city.

The proposals are in their early stages, and in fact may never come to fruition, but the very prospect of such a development will inevitably raise questions.

Already more than 1,600 people have signed the various petitions opposing the scheme and a campaign group has been set up to fight the proposals.

It was suggested in a Newport council meeting yesterday that it is too soon to protest against a proposal which is not yet finalised.

But we believe the onus is on those involved with Prosiect Gwyrdd to ensure that as much information is as forthcoming as possible.

We realise there may be commercial considerations which prevent too much public discussion at the moment.

We are also aware that the proposal for Newport is just one of three being considered by the five local authorities which make up Project Gwyrdd.

As such it may never happen.

But all three proposals involve the creation of some sort of incinerator which will deal with the unrecyclable waste from all the five local authority areas.

And people deserve to know what is being suggested as soon as practicably possible.