HEREFORD MP PAYS VISIT TO PROPOSED WASTE TREATMENT PLANT AT MADLEY

10.52.58am GMT Wed 21st Jan 2004

Liberal Democrat MP for Hereford, Paul Keetch along with members of the public including residents of Madley were invited to a demonstration of the Estech Europe waste treatment process at the weekend in a quest to alleviate residents concerns over Estech's new technology. The working scale model of this pioneering technology demonstrated how it can turn average household waste into sanitised recyclables.

The MP met with Jonathon Allen Chief Executive of Estech Europe to help clarify some of the issues surrounding the plant. Mr Keetch said:

" Mr Allen has satisfied some of the concerns I had over the plant with regards to the ownership of the company.

"He has also helped to clarify some of the remarks about Estech's technology made in the New York State report and has explained fully the circumstances of the other UK sites in Wales and Sheffield where their technology is based.

"After seeing the model recycling unit in action, I am sure this process could be an excellent way for Herefordshire to take a positive step towards achieving recycling targets, with Estech proposing that 80% of waste from the process could be recycled.

"As I have mentioned previously I and other politicians are not qualified to make comprehensive judgements about the technical competencies of Estech's technology, but if it is approved by the Environment Agency that would convince me to back the proposed technology in Herefordshire,

"The main concern I have therefore is the proposed site of the plant at Madley. The village does not have the infrastructure in place to deal with the extra traffic the plant would create and it would not be economically or environmentally feasible to develop infrastructure for the plant at Madley.

"I dispute suggestions made by other concerned parties to move the plant to Rotherwas, as this would add to congestion in the city. Even if the Rotherwas access road goes ahead, vehicles would still have to pass through the city to get south of the Wye. This is an unsuitable solution in my opinion and Rotherwas is not the correct site for this plant or as a transfer point for onward movement to Madley.

"The site of the recycling plant should be located on or adjacent to a main trunk road to allow more suitable access and ideally have provisions for possible rail access as well. As some traffic will come from Worcester, somewhere to the west and north of Hereford seems sensible.

"I was very impressed with the Estech technology and hope the council can work with the company to provide community waste solutions, but not at the expense of Madley residents. As the council has a vested interest in the plant they should provide Estech with assistance to find a more appropriate alternative site before plans are taken any further. Such an important development needs to be planned with the future in mind and not a quick decision that in time proves to be unworkable," Mr Keetch added.