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Fundraising call to fight waste plant
TOCKWITH Residents' Association has launched a major fundraising campaign to fight a waste company's proposed plan to build an incinerator near the village.
The association has already employed a land development specialist to fight BCB Environmental's 18 million development, and is now urging residents to plough thousands of pounds into its campaign.
At a Tockwith community meeting earlier this week, the association's treasurer, Carey Trenchard said: "We are grateful for the money offers and support we have received so far through either direct subscriptions or individual donations.
"But this is going to be a very long and expensive campaign against BCB and fund raising is a huge thing on our list of priorities. We need your help."
Earlier in the meeting, which saw nearly 100 residents turn out, villagers heard a presentation from the association's newly-employed land specialist, Peter Torrible.
Mr Torrible, who has 40 years experience of the planning process, said it was essential the Tockwith community employed waste specialists and experts in their field if they were to succeed in the their fight against BCB.
But he said battling the company's plans would prove costly and he gave an example of a similar fight in South Milford which had cost the community 35,000.
"Until we get total transparency the substantial fears of this community will not be laid to rest and the only way we can do this is by monitoring the activities of BCB's application and by employing specialists," he added.
"Your residents' association needs monetary support in order to fight this application and the best way to support it is to make a contribution."
BCB Environmental has applied to North Yorkshire County Council to build a new advanced thermal treatment plant on the Marsden Moor Business Park.
It claims the plant will burn enough waste to provide enough electricity to power 10,000 homes.
But, despite its plans having been endorsed by a Yorkshire regional assembly, villagers are fiercely opposed to the scheme fearing airborne particles from the plant will pose a substantial risk to their health.
BCB has, however, strongly defended its plans and has appealed to residents to end their opposition.
The company has held a public meeting and three open evenings with company representatives answering questions all this week.
A BCB spokesman said: "Those who came along to the evenings wanted to hear more about what the plant will involve.
"It was a very useful exercise and many people asked questions and watched a movie about the process," he added.
"BCB wouldn't build a waste plant if they couldn't plug into the national grid.
"The company has had a quote from electricity company, YEDL, who have said they would be able to connect the plant into the grid within a period of 12 months."
susannah.berry@ypn.co.uk
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Weather for Wetherby
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
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