Call for West Norfolk council to support anti-incinerator campaign

A West Norfolk councillor has filed a motion to support Wisbech Town Council in opposing the town’s proposed waste incinerator.

Michael de Whalley, has tabled the motion to be debated at next Thursday’s borough council meeting.

He said: “Wisbech is being threatened by this monster and lockdown makes it very difficult for the people of Wisbech to oppose it or to be involved in the process.”

In February 2011, 65,500 West Norfolk residents voted in a referendum over the proposed Lynn incinerator, with 90 per cent voting against the £500m contract with Cory Wheelabrator.

Mr de Whalley added: “It was a key part of the previous campaign, that we didn’t want incineration in West Norfolk and now they want to build an incinerator just over the border. It means the prevailing winds will bring the gases over this way.

“In the last 12 years, they have built more incinerators in the country than we actually need and now it’s harming recycling. You also have to think about air quality and pollution, and the impact on climate change.”

Spearheading the anti-incinerator community campaign in Wisbech, former councillor Virginia Bucknor is calling for West Norfolk residents to support the motion.

She said: “This is far bigger than the incinerator that was proposed for West Norfolk. This would be one of the biggest incinerators in the country. The chimney would stand 39m higher than Ely Cathedral.

“The toxic fumes from the incinerator would be blown right across Norfolk farmland for the next 40 years.

“This affects every one of us. If anyone in King’s Lynn or West Norfolk would like to object, please do. We need the whole community.”

The WisWIN group has its own Facebook page.