Anti incinerator campaigner Ginny Bucknor responded to criticism from MP Steve Barclay after she accepted the interim chairmanship of a community liaison group set up by MMV, the company who won Tory government approval to build the £450m mega incinerator in Wisbech.
Mr Barclay said: “I do not regard the community engagement from the developer as anything other than a smokescreen to justify an appalling eyesore that will pollute the town and subject the surrounding area to damaging traffic congestion.
“This is sham consultation and we all should not fall into playing the developer’s game.”
Mrs Bucknor, who co-ordinates the WisWIN anti incinerator campaign, believes the NE Cambs MP is out of touch with reality.
“So, you’re suggesting Steve that we do nothing and just accept whatever crumbs they offer or what some local charities are offered?,” she said.
“IF it goes ahead it will impact ALL our community for 40 years so it’s important that we use our voice to get residents’ concerns dealt with.
“For example, MVV want to put the access road from New Bridge Lane, Wisbech, AFTER the build – appallingly disruptive to the businesses. It should be built first and that’s what all of us who want to try and make a difference – residents and businesses – will try and achieve.”
She pledged: “Doing nothing is not an option in my view. The WisWIN team will fight to the very end.”
Wisbech town council committed £20,000 to the £188,000 expenditure by Fenland District Council in a failed bid to win a judicial review to halt the incinerator.
Campaigner Ginny Bucknor rallied, campaigned, and fought with her group WisWIN – Wisbech Without Incineration – to halt the project. PHOTO: Terry HarrisTown council leader Samantha Hoy posted to Facebook: “I can’t believe what I have just heard – Ginny Bucknor is chair of MVV’s liaison committee. Given that she has said she has been against it from the start, this supportive role seems a remarkable U-turn.”
Cllr Hoy added: “Someone who was supposed to leading a charge against them has got into bed with them. Or maybe she really has wanted it from day one?”
Mr Barclay also claimed he did not receive any official invitation to the first liaison committee meeting, held last week at the Oasis. However, many others, including Mayor Dr Nik Johnson, attended after hearing about the meeting through social media and being close to the ground in Wisbech.
The MP said he couldn’t have attended anyway – “I was in the House of Commons chamber voting on grooming gangs on Wednesday night” – and besides he had “highlighted flaws with the earlier consultation by MVV at the public hearing stage, when it was clear the developer was not providing clear notice or proper engagement.
“These concerns were ignored by MVV. So, it is no surprise that those who attended this phoney consultation last week complained about the lack of notice and engagement.
“That the latest consultation is flawed should not be a surprise given the previous one was too.”
He added: “What is surprising is that some of those who have been most engaged in opposing the incinerator now want to do the developers bidding and give the latest flawed consultation more legitimacy by taking on an official role.
“That is a mistake and a remarkable U turn. It is not a serious consultation, and I do not believe the developer has any intention of making material changes based on the latest consultation. As such it should be rejected not supported.
“So, I see no reason to attend any event organized by MVV.”
Mayor Dr Johnson said after the meeting: “This is a very complicated, very regrettable situation with the previous government having seemingly locked us into the ill-considered development in a most unwelcome and environmentally harmful waste incinerator.
Wisbech says NO to incinerator. Market Place, Wisbech Sunday 27 June 2021. Among those attending was Mayor Dr Nik Johnson (above) Picture by Terry Harris.“As a nation, we should be well past needing these kinds of facilities. I’ve been opposed to this proposal since it was first mooted and have continued and will continue to raise my concerns with government.”
Mrs Bucknor has refused to be drawn into commenting on the derogatory comments by Cllr Hoy to debate the merits of the new liaison committee.
“We are still working very hard in the background with the great support from Mayor Dr Nik Johnson (and not publicising for obvious reasons),” she said.
“There were at least three organisations at the meeting who do support the incinerator, simply because they are looking for funding for their own projects.
“Obviously, our priority – if it does go ahead – is to get as much money out of them as possible for the benefit of the whole community. After all the detrimental impact will be for the next 40 years so these meetings WILL be run by the community, not MVV (though they will fund them) and not by someone who has a personal vested interest.”
MP Steve Barclay speaking at a public meeting in 2020 to halt the incineratorMrs Bucknor added: “We are also proposing that the businesses have their own liaison meeting.”
Many have taken to social media to support Mrs Bucknor, and typical has been this comment from Alan Wheeldon.
He posted: “Just to emphasise this is not a consultation, it doesn’t support or legitimise the construction of the incinerator. As far as MVV are concerned the incinerator will be built whether there is a local liaison group or not.”
Site for massive Wisbech incinerator , Wisbech Saturday 24 February 2024. Picture by Terry Harris.He reminded residents that MVV have been given a Development Consent order by the former Conservative Secretary of State to build the Wisbech incinerator. And the Environment Agency has given MVV an Environmental Permit to operate the incinerator.
“However, in spite of this people are still working behind the scenes on several fronts to try all means to stop this incinerator from being built or to operate,” he posted.
“In the meantime, MVV have invited stakeholders to form a local liaison group with the objective ‘To encourage discussion between the developer and local residents and stakeholders on matters relating to the construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of the Energy from Waste Combined Heat and Power Facility. It is intended to be a forum for the open exchange of information.’
“So why have some residents and business leaders asked to join the liaison group.
“The clue is written in the objectives of the group – it is intended to be a forum for the open exchange of information’.
Cambridgeshire County Council leader Lucy Nethsingha (pictured) with Cllr Lorna Dupre when they joined campaigners against the proposed incinerator in Wisbech to tour the site and listen to residents’ concerns“It gives local residents and business leaders a formal forum to find out information relevant to them. Such as when will the construction start, what routes are going to be used to transport all the heavy equipment and materials down. Will some roads be closed, will water and electricity supplies be interrupted.
“Can any steps be taken to mitigate against excessive noise and dust during construction. Plus, many other issues likely to arise as a result of construction of this massive incinerator which is projected to take up to three years to complete.”
Mr Wheeldon added: “Currently some think that people should blank MVV and the liaison group. I expect MVV don’t actually care if there is a liaison group at all, as they have fulfilled any obligation on their part by offering one. The construction is planned to go ahead anyway.
“However, residents living within yards of the incinerator site and businesses trying to operate close to where hundreds of construction workers and tonnes of equipment and materials will arrive, on a daily basis, will be desperate for information so that they can make contingency plans to reduce the damaging effects that this will have on their lives and businesses.
Claire Coutinho, Conservative Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (right), agreed a £450m incinerator for Wisbech (outline drawing above) but 24 hours later it was withdrawn for “clarification” of her decision. But it was later formally approved“This liaison group will be a ready way to source that information.”
Meanwhile Mrs Bucknor has posted details of the next meeting, February 5th at 6pm at Oasis Community Centre.
“As we want answers to many of our concerns from MVV – should this horror be built – please email Jane.Ford@mvvuk.co.uk, Communications and Community Relations Manager at MVV Environment Ltd.
“I am also asking for this meeting to be videoed so that those who cannot attend still have an opportunity to be kept up to date.”
Paul Carey, the managing director of MVV Environment, said that his company had taken the same approach to establish community liaison Committees at other incinerator locations, and several people expressed an interest in being involved in Wisbech.
Mr Barclay also claimed he did not receive any official invitation to the first liaison committee meeting, held last week at the Oasis. However, many others, including Mayor Dr Nik Johnson, attended after hearing about the meeting through social media and being close to the ground in Wisbech. First meeting above; Photo: WisWINHe added: “It was to these members of the community that we advertised the meeting on Wednesday.
“However, it would appear that the details of the meeting were circulated to a wider audience by WisWIN, on the assumption that it was a general community meeting, and therefore many more people than MVV had expected attended.”
He also said MVV would hold meetings with local councils, the Environment Agency and community representatives.
