A COMMUNITY is ready to go into battle against the possible construction of an incinerator.
Nearly 100 residents of Deeside and the surrounding area converged at a public meeting at Connah’s Quay Civic Hall to stress their opposition to the North Wales Residual Waste Treatment Project (NWRWTP) building a facility on Deeside Industrial Park.
Support was received f rom communities that have fought similar battles, with the meeting being addressed by Chris Austin and wife Alyson who had led a campaign to stop a development in Merthyr Tydfil.
Urging the community to work together and create a group opposing any development, Friends of the Earth member Mr Austin said: “There is no losing in a community fight. You can never lose with it. Even if you don’t stop it you would win concessions.”
He said having the backing of council members would help and called for those opposing an incinerator to “stand up and be counted”.
Opponents to the Merthyr Tydfil development used methods including a leaflet drop, petitions and marches to convey their feelings.
No decision has so far been made on whether such actions will be taken in Deeside but support was given for a petition.
Health concerns are central to the opposition, but concerns have also been voiced about other issues including potentially increased traffic levels.
Community leaders from Deeside attended the meeting, chaired by Connah’s Quay councillor Bernie Attridge.
Speaking after the meeting, Sealand councillor Christine Jones said: “This is not just going to affect Connah’s Quay.
“There could be emissions coming towards Sealand, Queensferry etc as well as going over towards Wirrall.”
Queensferry councillor David Wisinger added: “People are very worried about this.
We’ve already got lots of industry in this area which give off fumes and we’re quickly becoming a dumping ground for smelly and dirty industry.
“It’s becoming a big concern.”
Opponents believe the facility could be capable of dealing with 150,000 tonnes of waste from households across North Wales.
Bosses at NWRWTP have confirmed a deal to buy land on Anglesey belonging to Anglesey Aluminium Ltd has fallen through, with no decision having so far been made on the type of technology or a site to deal with residual waste from Flintshire, Denbighshire, Anglesey, Gwynedd and Conwy.
NWRWTP project manager Steffan Owen has stressed the Deeside site is not set in stone.
He said: “Bidders are still welcome to come forward with their own site and by no means is Deeside a done deal.”
Mr Owen said he was also open to the method of waste treatment and the incinerator – or waste-to-energy method – was not final.