This is the home page for Monklands Residents Against Pyrolysis Plant ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 15-Jan-12 MRAPP are organising
a bus for the Court of Session on Thurs 19th & Fri 20th Jan. First come first served for seats....................... On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 12:17 AM, Maggie Proctor <maggie.proctor@sky.com> wrote: Dear all Our day in Court has finally arrived! We have enormous widespread support for the continued fight against the Simon Howie incinerator being built in Monklands. We hope you will be able to attend on both or either of the days. We have achieved much over the last two years and we thank everyone for all their efforts, I would urge anyone who can come along next week to please be there to show your support for our campaign and YOUR community. Please find below details of the Court details/times/map for next Thurs & Fri, 19th & 20th January. http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/courtusers/charter/charter_13.asp click to follow link or cut & paste into your browser Full Address: Street map showing Court of Session The hearing has been assigned for two days, 19th and 20th January, commencing at 10am and ending between 4:00 to 4:30pm The entrance to the court is opposite St Giles Cathedral and upon arrival you should report to reception where you will be directed to the allocated court room. There is no parking in the immediate area. No banners or placards will be allowed in the court room. Further information can be obtained from the Court on the above contact details. Best regards Maggie MRAPP 07941126732 The dates for the Court of Session case - Council vs Shore Energy - have been announced: Thurs 19 and Fri 20th January 2012 ====================================================================================== 8-jan-12 Good to hear that the Baldovie Incinerator is losing money! From: Alan Gibson ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/currentmsps/27918.aspx New Minister (Derek Mackay) for Planning is wise enough at the age of 13 to campaign against an incinerator in his area! So is he on our side? Derek first got involved in politics at the age of 13 when a campaign was launched in his home town of Renfrew against the development of a toxic waste incinerator. The campaign was successful and Derek pursued political life, joining the SNP in 1994, and becoming a local Community Councillor and Crime Prevention Committee Vice Convenor. From: Alan Gibson I see that there is a new minister for planning see the links below.I hope he is still against toxic incinerators as it is reported in his profile that he campaigned against one in his early years. http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/scotland/newsid_9660000/9660517.stm =============================================================== The only thing that we can put up just now is the Court of Session taking place date of 19 20th Jan and more details will follow re times/location/attendance etc. And of course, Aileen Campbell no longer being Planning Minister, replaced by Derek Mackay. Here's hoping that Ms Campbell's remit as Minister for Children and Young People includes protecting them from the health effects of incineration in their community! Perhaps now she can speak out on the subject of incineration and tell us what she really thinks. And hopefully her replacement Mr Derek Mackay will listen to our points on the injustice of a system which clearly favours the developer over the people of Monklands. I would encourage everyone to drop an email to Mr Derek Mackay to get us firmly on his radar. Email at scottish.ministers@scotland.gsi.gov.uk with For the attention of Mr Derek Mackay, Minister Designate for Local Government & Planning in the subject line. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject:
RE: Re Mossend Link at Carnbroe I wanted to know if this road would be of advantage in any way to Howie’s proposed operation, either by road usage or by hauling waste by rail destined for Carnbroe Mr Stirling said PD Stirling have not had dialogue with Howie and have no plans to do so. The road they propose will be solely for their company use only. Did you see the map included in the planning application? It shows it’s on the other side of the carriageway but it will not go ahead until the M8 completion is finished. The impact will be to lessen PD Stirling’s truck movement through Reema Road onto this proposed dedicated road. I told him our concerns that it could open options for Howie to transport waste via the railhead but he said that was not economically viable, as Howies truck movements are considered to be local. I did point out that in section 3 – 3.1 of the development proposal it stated that “Mossend Railhead transports bulky & dirty goods by rail which cannot be handled by the Eurocentral Container Depot” He explained that Eurocentral term of dirty covered the transport of scrap metals which are clean, stripped and ready for production and is not actually scrap. He assured me they are not in the waste business although they may in the future be used as a hub for sealed waste containers going down south. He also said that personally he was against the pyrolysis plant as it was in the wrong area. We also discussed the potential for Howie using the rail link at the side of the Shanks site but he was of the opinion it could not be done because of the steepness of the embankment another rail line could not be added and the existing trains traffic would not allow for freight to start/stop safely. So I don’t know if this will affect Howie’s plans – if he could transport by rail I’ve no doubt he would and this would add to his options – and if he approached P D Stirling with a business plan to their mutual benefit, why would they say no? Objections had to be in by Wednesday so it’s too late to object. All of this won’t help in January as the Court will be looking solely into the process which was followed by the DPEA. So I don’t really know what to do with this info but I will be watching developments closely.
Also, I’ve asked the Council to influence the lawyers as much as possible to get a later date than January, the longer we delay this the more it costs Howie and the more things change. It’s a gamble but we’ve kept him at bay for almost 2 years now, if we can for another year it would help. From: Alan Gibson Came across planning application for a further link road to supply freight road traffic to the rail terminal, this would add to the pollution levels around the shore energy site at a time when they are supposed to be trying to lower them. Why can they not use Eurocentral dua carriageway. Could this be used in January? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 28th July. SEPA isn't really doing any checking about reported pollutant levels. From Maggie P Thanks to Alan for passing this on. Good to know SEPA have got our backs (not!). I shall be sending this link to Nicola Sturgeon and Aileen Campell. From the Herald:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Do we need a Pyrolysis Plant at all? It all depends on how we (are allowed to) recycle.. Here's a letter recently sent to all MSPs. On 28 June the Public Petitions Committee will have a third look at our (Michael Gallagher - Green Alternatives to Incineration in Scotland) petition calling for the phased abolition of waste incineration and large-scale biomass burning, both of which have been rejected by Friends of the Earth as being environmentally harmful - http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/petitions/docs/PE1379.htm. Focussing on the first of these issues, here is a reminder of some of the reasons why we believe there is no justification for waste incineration in Scotland. TARGETS In the past, some local authorities have considered incineration as a way of meeting European landfill reduction targets. Exceeding these targets incurs fines of £150 per tonne. However these targets only apply to the biodegradable portion of municipal waste, i.e. the things that can rot and produce methane if buried in landfill. Biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) consists mainly of 5 things – paper, card, textiles, food and garden waste. If local authorities do their best to recycle and compost these materials, there is no way on Earth they will ever incur fines. More generally the Scottish Government’s target of 70% recycling by 2025 is hopelessly unambitious. South Oxfordshire District Council doubled its recycling to 71% in 2009, simply by switching to a different waste contractor (it is now up to 73%). San Francisco City & County is recycling 77% and aims for 100% by 2020 with no incineration or landfill. Why isn’t the Scottish Government similarly ambitious? UNSUSTAINABLE Thanks on to everyone for joining us at the
demo on Saturday, what a fantastic turnout and it proves that people do care
and are willing to do what they can to stop Simon Howie from harming our
community. Thanks to Richard & his staff at Matic Media http://www.maticmedia.co.uk/ for
amazing banners and placards! Also, thanks to Frank Croal at Swift and
Wullie for the flyers and of course all the volunteers who distributed the
flyers and posters, we could not have done this without you all. Next steps? The Council meet on Wed to vote on taking this decision to the Court of Session. We do know the Council are firm in their resolve to fight this. The decision issued by the DPEA reporters will be challenged, but we need to keep up the pressure from this end too. Our ‘friends’ in Edinburgh need to be inundated with emails, if you’ve not had a reply keep sending every day and ask when they intend to reply to you. Ask your friends, family and neighbours if they have sent their emails yet, be as much of a pest as I am. For those of you who wish to contact Mr Howie with your thoughts (keep it clean and not abusive please!) his email address is : simon@simonhowie.co.uk and you can also reach him via comments section at http://www.shore-energy.co.uk/pages/Contact_Shore_Energy Other suggestions: diMaggio’s website proudly claim to use best quality Simon Howie produce. Please email them asking them if they are aware of the massive public opposition which exists and that MRAPP are asking all local businesses to boycott his produce until he abandons plans to build the incinerator. info@dimaggios.co.uk Ask Asda & Tesco (& Morrisons?) to stop selling Simon Howie produce until he abandons plans to build the incinerator. Tesco: use Customer services contact form on the website: http://www.tesco.com/help/contact/contactus4.asp Asda http://your.asda.com/section-contact-asda use the In Shop Instore link to leave a comment: You may be aware from recent media reports that a campaign is currently underway and gathering force in Monklands to prevent Simon Howie from building an incinerator plant in our community. The community is also aware Simon Howie supplies meat and produce which you offer for sale. We are asking Asda, Tesco and diMaggio's not to stock or sell his products until he agrees to abandon plans to build this incinerator. We await your comments which will be announced at our next public meeting. regards Your name......., on behalf of Monklands Residents Against Pyrolysis Plant (MRAPP) We shall be meeting again shortly to discuss our next steps and will keep everyone informed. Please keep using facebook and keep the campaign going, your suggestions are both welcome and helpful. Sincere thanks Maggie On behalf of MRAPP >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Further to my colleague Alan Gibson’s earlier email. The demonstration against Shore Energy on Saturday 18/6/11 at the notorious traffic black spot - Shawhead- shows that our community and our council (including our SNP colleagues who joined us) are firmly behind us. We do not accept there is an “urgent” need for the Shore Energy pyrolysis incinerator to be built on the former Shanks site in Monklands, just a few hundred yards from Shawhead and Carnbroe with access/egress straight from the A8, on the main route from Glasgow to Edinburgh. 500 mothers, fathers, children, grandmothers, grandfathers and grandchildren stood side by side on Saturday in protest against this plant, one of the largest demonstrations that Monklands has seen in years. North Lanarkshire has exceeded targets set for recycling, yet finds this incinerator being forced upon the community without regard to need, potential short and long term health issues, proximity to homes, schools and nurseries, air quality and traffic congestion issues. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I await your comments Mr Swinney ****************************************************************** I await your comments Ms Sturgeon. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I would ask Ms Campbell to look at the clearly flawed planning process that may allow this plant to be built. As a mother, would you be content with exposing your child to such “tolerable” or “acceptable” risks? I understand that you spoke out against the proposed plant at Dovesdale, do you have an opinion on the Shore Energy incinerator being built near homes, schools & nurseries in Monklands? I await your comments Ms Campbell. _______________________________________________________________________ You have responsibilities regarding the environment and sustainable development, we would be interested to have your views on this proposed development and its impact in both these areas. I await your comments Mr Lochhead ========================================================================== Mr Alex Neil has publicly stated that he does not agree with this incinerator being built, as has Mr John Wilson. If you don’t listen to us First Minister, will you listen to your colleagues? Mr Neil and Mr Wilson both understand the negative impact this plant will have on the area, and have also offered their support. We ask that you meet with them as a matter of extreme urgency to discuss this matter. I await your comments Mr Salmond First Minister - how can our government claim to be ‘for the people’ if they do not listen to what the people of Monklands are saying? May I quote you “We have a duty as parliamentarians to articulate the public’s concerns and try and bring proper remedy” We call on you to do that now. As First Minister you have a unique opportunity to be at the front of the drive to build a network of sustainable solutions which will create jobs and solve waste issues without harming the environment. Scotland could lead the way by promoting reduction in waste and then there would be almost no waste available to burn! If burning waste is the best solution our Government can come up with, then you have failed. May I draw your attention to the fact that in the ‘Waste Hierarchy’ incineration is right next to landfill. We know that putting waste in holes in the ground is the worst thing we can do, but right next to that is burning it. The incineration process which Mr Simon Howie’s Shore Energy is proposing is fast becoming yesterday’s technology. With better education and drives to reduce, reuse and recycle, this plant will become a white elephant within just a few years due to falling waste streams and is a disjointed and ill-conceived plan which will not benefit our area. It serves only to bring profit to Simon Howie, with our community ultimately paying the price. MRAPP, Monklands Residents Against Pyrolysis Plant ask that you take immediate steps to stop this incinerator from blighting our community. I would ask you Sir, to explain why in the face of overwhelming opposition, Mr Simon Howie’s business takes precedence over the wishes of our community and elected councillors. I await your comments Mr Salmond To assure you Sir, support for our campaign
grows by the day with residents and local businesses pledging their support. Maggie Proctor On behalf of MRAPP, Monklands Residents against Pyrolysis Plant http://www.facebook.com/No.Incinerator http://www.mrapp.org.uk/ Almost 6000 residents of Monklands signed a petition against Shore Energy building a plant at the former Shanks McEwan site, access/egress of which is direct from the main arterial link from Glasgow to Edinburgh. North Lanarkshire Planning Committee voted against this proposal, with cross-party unanimous support. An appeal for the adjacent site (owned by Rossco Investments, also owned by Simon Howie) was thrown out by the DPEA (both sites share same entrance/exit), yet the incinerator appeal was passed by the DPEA. Shore Energy site and Rossco investments site are separated by a few feet. Mr Howie’s company, Shore Energy, plans to transport waste from a 30 mile radius (and further) to Carnbroe in order to ‘feed’ this plant. This is contrary to our understanding of local waste being dealt with locally. From: Alan Gibson [mailto:alanjgibson1@sky.com]
Sent: 18 June 2011 18:04 Hello All What a turn out today for the Demonstration at Shawhead Flyover on the A8. Well Done to the MRAPP committee along with Elaine Smith MSP ,Tom Clark MP,and the Local councillors from all parties who took time to support the demonstration. Well done to the residents of coatbridge/airdrie and beyond along with their children who turned out in such numbers to show their support to the protest and the impeccable way that they conducted themselves. I am copying this as you can see to the contacts in the scottish parliament who could not manage to give the demonstration their support and as they have not replied to any of my previous emails(with the exception of John Wilson and Alex Neil) i doubt if i will receive a reply to this one but i will keep trying. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ click here for the photos and videos I (Stephen Tagg) took at the demo Saturday ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This is how it should
be done! South Oxfordshire Council, in 3 MONTHS, raised the recycling rate from
42% to 70% it can be done. http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/news/2011/2011-02/innovation-award-waste-collection-service Innovation award for waste collection service - South Oxfordshire District Council The waste collection service in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse has scooped a national award for environmental innovation. ============================================================== Please add your comments – Kenny is keeping the campaign to the fore. Waiting with interest to see what Howie’s response will be. ________________________________________________________________________________ Invergordon Incinerator & M Al Fayed March 2011 http://news.stv.tv/scotland/highlands-islands/233685-crunch-talks-for-invergordon-incinerator/ You will need sound for this (first few seconds are an advert). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Demonstration on Shawhead Flyover 12 noon Saturday 18th June The demonstration is on! Saturday 18th at 12 noon at Shawhead flyover. I’ve attached at the bottom of the page: 1. A
flyer – please print off as many as you can & pop through as many doors in
your area as you can, pass to neighbours, friends & family Give your kids a bundle of flyers and ask them to give them out at school. Any other ideas for exposure, please go ahead......... The old Woolworths shop in Airdrie has packs of 20 dust masks for £1, we are asking people to wear them and white disposable suits (B & Q have these) but it’s more important to be there, so don’t worry if you can’t get these in time. We are getting more placards and banners printed (thanks R!). Other ideas: Whistles, Children welcome, Fluorescent bibs First and foremost we must have your safety in mind, keep to the pavements at all times and keep a close eye to all children, not just your own! This will be the biggest demo Coatbridge has ever seen, I know we will have a great turnout – because you will be there helping us to help you. See you on Saturday. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Friday 10th June Great attendance at Shawhead on Tuesday night. A warm welcome to the supporters who kindly supplied their
email addresses at the meeting at St Bernards, Shawhead on Tues 7th June. We
will now be able to keep you up-to-date with developments and updates.
Thanks to Sandra S who passed her details onto Michelle when they met at
Alex Neil's surgery on Monday Good coverage in the Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser this week, including a front page declaration of support from David Stocks, the new SNP group leader of NLC who believes that the pyrolysis plant will affect both Coatbridge & parts of Airdrie. Every day more and more people are pledging support. Please do encourage everyone to visit www.mrapp.org.uk and http://www.facebook.com/No.Incinerator - contact details for our 'friends' in the Scottish Parliament have been posted on both Also............................................................ see found in
Motherwell times. what happened in 2007 ACROSS from the former landfill and incinerator site when SEPA stepped in to halt demolition. What did SEPA do to stop Simon Howie from churning up a former landfill site, exposing gases (or is it gasses?) and highly toxic substances? Ask people to email write to SEPA via their website - http://sepa.org.uk/about_us/contacting_sepa/by_email.aspx
asking why they took no action when the owners of the landfill site carried out
his site clearance in 2009. Tuesday 7th June Just a reminder that the next public meeting is TONIGHT 7th June at 7pm at St Bernard's School in Shawhead - even if you
have heard it all before it's important that you come along. Cllr Brooks
may have an update for us on a legal challenge. Listed below are the emails addresses to send to: Ref: PPA-320-2011 – Shore Energy MRAPP (Monklands Residents Against Pyrolysis Plant) are asking everyone to email Cabinet Ministers & MSP’s asking them are they going to stand back, do nothing and let this incinerator destroy our community? We urge everyone to email or write, demanding the elected representatives reverse the decision allowing this incinerator to be built: Alex Salmond: FirstMinister@scotland.gsi.gov.uk and Alex.Salmond.msp@scottish.parliament.uk Or write to the Office of the First Minister St. Andrew's House Regent Rd, Edinburgh EH1 3DG Alex Neil: Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment alex.neil.msp@scottish.parliament.uk John Wilson: John.Wilson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk Or write to: The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh EH99 1SP Aileen Campbell, Minister for Planning aileen@aileencampbell.com and aileen.campbell.msp@scottish.parliament.uk Nicola Sturgeon MSP: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy Nicola.sturgeon.msp@scottish.parliament.uk Ask friends, family to help by emailing or writing ==================================================================================== 2nd June 2011 Elaine Smith - questions Scottish Government Minister - please see link above------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st June 2011 Maggie Proctor reports an excellent turnout at the meeting last night (Tuesday 31st May), "I left
feeling more hopeful that we can turn this around. We have strong support
pledged to continue this fight and if last night was anything to go by, we will
win."
If anyone can manage, Mr Alex Neil MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment will be at Airdrie Arts Centre at 11am on Monday 6th June. His remit includes housing, communities and regeneration. He is quoted as saying "He will do anything to keep Monklands A & E open" Please tell him the NEW fight is against this incinerator and what will he do for us NOW? I would really appreciate it if you could go along, even just to tell him how angry you are about this issue. It all helps. His responsibilties include: Scottish Water, procurement, European Structural Funds, Scottish Futures Trust, transport policy and delivery, public transport, road, rail services, air and ferry services, housing, communities and regeneration. The other name mentioned last night (for emailing) Aileen Campbell Aileen.Campbell.msp@scottish.parliament.uk - her bio says that she stands up for Scotland, ask her if that includes Monklands? She is Minister for Local Government and Planning. Also just a reminder about the NEXT meeting in St Bernard's School next Tuesday at 7pm. We need to ensure a good turnout"======================================================================================= 23rd May 2011 NOT the result we wanted from the appeal  Appeal has been allowed and planning permission has been granted. Details at http://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/CaseDetails.aspx?id=qJ12238 (you probably will need to accept terms and conditions first). http://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/Documents/qJ12238/J178438.pdf is the actual letter. Mohamed al Fayed spent the money and rescued the Invergordon appeal at this stage. Anyone know a lottery winner or similar fat cat? And it's within 6 weeks of 18th may it has to be made to the court of session in edinburgh. |