 Permission has been granted for the Energy Recovery Facility (The Dome) at Marchwood to start processing waste brought in from outside the County.
The decision was taken today by the Regulatory Committee of Hampshire County Council which had earlier deferred the decision.
The committee accepted the advice of Officers and reassurances from Richard Johnson, the Director of Veolia, who manage the plant, that the change in operating conditions would not lead to increased HGV movements to and from the site.
However, the application was vigorously opposed by the local County Councillor for Totton South & Marchwood, David Harrison who warned that the change in condition would indeed open the door for even more HGV movements into Marchwood at a later date.
Councillor Harrison told the Regulatory Committee that the area he represents is already the most stressed in Hampshire when it comes to excessive HGV movements and referred to fatal accidents, including a recent incident resulting in the death of a cyclist in Jacobs Gutter Lane.
The campaigning councillor told members that he had heard on good authority that consultants had been instructed by Hampshire County Council to examine the feasibility of increasing the handling capacity of the Marchwood ERF.
“He says “Permitting this change to conditions will clear the way for the next step which will indeed lead to even more HGV movements.
The County Council is being quite deceptive with the public”.
Following the meeting, Cllr. Harrison confronted Mr Johnson of Veolia who refused to deny that consultants were looking at increasing the capacity of the plant, only saying that “Any such proposals will have to go through the full planning process”.
Councillor Harrison adds “The relationship that Hampshire County Council has with Veolia is far too cosy.
They always get their way, despite howls of protest.
Most other organisations would have been forced to contribute funds that would have provided a decent, safe cycle and pedestrian route between Marchwood and Totton, but not Veolia.
The two organisations are not treating the people I represent in a reasonable manner”.
Councillor Harrison now plans to submit a Freedom of information request in an effort to force Hampshire County Council to disclose details of the report looking at increasing the capacity of the Marchwood ERF.
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