Monday 14th September 2009

Stop the Incinerator Campaign Launched

Local residents, environmentalists and Green politicians join forces to form ‘Stop the Incinerator’ campaign.

Following a less than transparent South London Waste Partnership workshop on September 7th, frustrated local residents, environmentalists and politicians are pressing ahead with an anti-incinerator campaign. The official launch will be on 23rd September, 7.30pm at Ruskin House, Coombe Road, Croydon.

The campaign calls for an immediate end to the South London Waste Partnership in its present form, a zero waste strategy, a comprehensive government commissioned study identifying the health effects of incinerators, an extensive information campaign to inform people of the importance of recycling and an immediate reversal of the European Parliament’s decision to repackage incinerators as ‘energy from waste’ plants.

Chair of the organisation, local resident Paul Pickering, said:

“The numbers attending the workshop indicate that people are still unaware about the issues surrounding this critical development and the impact it will have on their lives, their health and the value of their properties.”

The newly formed anti-incinerator group will become the latest member of the UK Without Incineration Network (UKWIN) which is the umbrella group of dozens of anti-incineration groups across the country. UKWIN opposes incinerators for the following reasons:

It depresses recycling and wastes resources - Releases greenhouse gases - Is often forced through against strong public opposition - Relies on exaggerating future quantities of waste instead of strongly increased recycling and composting - Creates toxic emissions and hazardous ash - Poses significant health risks

Mr Pickering continued: “To my surprise, we have found that the government’s planned roll out of incinerators is fostering similar campaign groups across the country. We are not the only ones worried.”

Secretary for the Stop The Incinerator campaign group, the Green Party’s Shasha Khan said:

“The key consultation was the first one, which was hardly publicized, because arguably, it has given the council the ticket it needed to procure. If the Green Party had not obtained the procurement contract, the council would not have been forced to make statements about the nature of the waste plan. Mr Khan continued:

“The authorities have confused the issue for their own gain. On the one hand the Labour government is pushing forward with a new generation of incinerators across the country but on the other, Labour councillors are claiming to be anti-incineration. Also, the Conservative council are stating that they won’t build an incinerator, yet because of European legislation, pushed through by Labour and the Tories, these incinerators will arguably be masquerading as  ‘energy from waste’ plants to get past local opposition.

“Given that the consultation has been a public relations masterclass that has left local people feeling uncertain, we felt it was important to start a campaign that could answer those questions that remain unanswered, based on precedents.

The campaign group’s web site can be found at www.stoptheincinerator.co.uk. There is bank of information already available on the site as well as an online petition.

The launch meeting will have guest speakers who defeated the proposed mass burn incinerator in Capel, Surrey earlier this year as well as other experts on this issue.

Tuesday 4th August 2009

The True Cost of Academisation

OVER £1MILLION SPENT TO CHANGE STATUS OF ASHBURTON TO AN ACADEMY.

Croydon Save Our Schools have obtained under the Freedom of Information Act the interim costs of changing the Ashburton schools into an academy. These include the feasibility of the proposal, legal and consultative related tasks plus project management fees. The bill presently stands at £1,058,899.

This follows the earlier revelation that the bill for changing Haling Manor’s status to Academy is presently running at £981,666. The true cost may well exceed this figure.

Commenting on this latest disclosure, Shasha Khan said:

“Tax payers need to be aware that over £2million of DCSF money has already been spent on changing the status of these schools and we’re still waiting for Croydon Council’s own expenditure. There has always been a feeling that the driver behind the Academies programme is the privatisation of community schools at whatever cost.

“It’s awful to think that this money could have been spent on classroom support assistants, extra learning mentors, Saturday homework clubs and the like. The councils’ mantra was that that these schools were failing but little consideration was given to the pupils that went to these schools with special education needs. £1 million would have gone a long way in giving the necessary support.”

Tuesday 5th May 2009

Croydon Save Our Schools Petition

Croydon Save Our Schools have started a petition calling for a delay in signing of the funding agreements with Harris Federation and Oasis Trust until a review of Croydon Council’s tactics in circumventing opposition to the plans have been investigated.

Commenting on the petition, Shasha Khan said:

“Many campaigners and interested parties feel that Croydon Council has rushed through the Secondary Schools Review without proper consultation. In their eagerness to deliver two new academies in September, the council has sidestepped the concerns of those who will be affected by the changes.

“Moreover, we are now in May and still the statutory process is still ongoing. I am sure even the sponsors would like more opportunities to address the concerns of interested parties and actual time to plan for the new school year, in September. Timetabling, staffing and other administrative issues should not be rushed because ultimately it’s the education of the children that will be affected."

Provided there are 500 signatures or more on the petition, it will be passed to officials who work for the Prime Minister in Downing Street, or sent to the relevant Government department for a response.

Sign the petition here

Sunday 15th March 2009

Sustainable Communities Act

Unlike Sutton, Lewisham and Lambeth Councils, Croydon Council has yet to announce any decision on whether they intend to "opt in" to the Sustainable Communities Act.
Doing so would allow local communities to decide how best to spend money earmarked for sustainability, rather than trusting central government or quangos to have our best interests at heart.
Opting in would give the Council the power to vary business rates, thereby allowing them to help local businesses (such as lowering rates for small businesses and increasing them for big supermarkets; thus helping to offset the unfair advantage these giants gain from offering free parking when local businesses cannot).
Failing to opt in would deprive local communities of a vital voice in their sustainable future and would represent a betrayal of local businesses, local people and local democracy.
The Tory Council have suggested they are fighting for local business. If they are serious, they should stop wasting time and opt in immediately.

An online petition is here - please do sign and send our Council a message:

Sustainable Communities Petition

Tuesday 10th March 2009

Air Pollution in Waddon is exceeding safe standards

At a recent Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting, it was revealed that Nitrogen Dioxide readings taken from the Air Quality Monitoring Station in Waddon had exceeded safe standards by up to 20% in the last 8 years.
Spokesperson for the Croydon Green Party Shasha Khan said,
“The targets are there for a reason. Over 1000 people die prematurely every year in London as a result of poor air quality, far more than die in traffic accidents. Air pollution is the invisible urban killer and central and local governments really must take action.
“In the light of these startling readings, it is hardly surprising that the UK Government plans to delay meeting new EU air quality targets.”

Nitrogen Dioxide is a respiratory irritant. There is evidence that exposure can increase the risk to children of respiratory infections and cause impairment of lung functions in later life. Asthmatics and those suffering from emphysema and other breathing problems are thought to be especially sensitive to the levels of Nitrogen dioxide.
Shasha Khan continued:
"In Waddon the fumes from motor vehicles have no doubt caused these high nitrogen dioxide readings. There is growing evidence that the actual death toll and illnesses caused by poor air quality is much higher. This is because there is a timelag before lung problems develop.”