Plans to expand the Envar site at Woodhurst and build an unnecessary medical waste incinerator are entirely at odds with the wishes of local residents. Living in Huntingdon I know I wouldn't want an incinerator burning medical waste where my family live.
The proposed Woodhurst medical waste incinerator is supported by the Lib Dem and Independent Councillors on the Planning Committee.
The plans were stopped by our Conservative County Councillors but now the rejected proposal is set to be appealed on the 20th February. If approved it would see a new medical waste incinerator built at the existing Envar site on the St. Ives Road, burning 12,000 tonnes a year of healthcare waste from across the East of England. Our rural landscape would be blighted by a 26m high chimney impacting local homes, businesses and wildlife. The incinerator would create additional congestion from vehicles transporting waste, placing further pressure on roads and traffic in surrounding villages where we are making improvements locally; the dangerous Wheatsheaf crossroads is due to be upgraded this Spring thanks to Cllr Steve Criswell’s tireless work to make the junction safe.
Having spoken to concerned residents and the POWI (People Opposing Woodhurst Incinerator) campaign group it is clear that opposition to the plans is strong. The effect on local businesses is a real issue, with farmers concerned about their produce and the nearby nursery worried about the effects of air pollution. There is also a potentially significant impact on local wildlife; the site is directly opposite a sanctuary for rare birds of prey who nest in the surrounding woodland adjacent to the site.
Together we can prevent the incinerator from being built. As your MP I will stand against this development and any others which have a detrimental impact on our countryside and our quality of life. I am committed to supporting the views of local residents.