KEETCH CALLS ON COUNCIL TO LOOK AGAIN AT MADLEY SITE

12.04.09pm GMT Tue 3rd Aug 2004

Hereford's Liberal Democrat MP Paul Keetch has written to the Conservative Leader of Herefordshire Council, Roger Phillips, asking him to look again at the proposed siting of a new waste recycling plant at Madley. Mr Keetch, who yesterday met constituents from Madley and neighbouring Kingstone and Clehonger, said that whilst we needed to test the technology proposed, he still believed the site at Madley was the wrong location.

"I profoundly believe that the proposed site at Madley is wrong and I want the Council, who gave planning permission for a project they will have a financial interest in, to look again at the site", said Mr Keetch.

"Many of the residents I met yesterday complained about what one called the 'stench of political hypocrisy'. The Tory Parliamentary Candidate for Hereford has campaigned against the plant, but the Tory led Council then approved the scheme.

"Given that much of the waste will come from the north of Herefordshire, and if the process is expanded could also come from Worcestershire, a site to the north or north west of Hereford seems more appropriate. The site should also be located next to a main road and if possible a rail link too. This is the approach I have always advocated and seems to me the most sensible.

"If we are really seeking environmental gain, then transporting waste through the centre of Hereford to site on a narrow road with no rail link looks pretty silly.

"It is not too late to stop this plant. Local people are still campaigning hard and calling for a judicial review. The Tory led Herefordshire Council could solve this by looking genuinely at alternative more suitable sites. I hope at this late hour they will do that."