Campaign against landfill site gathers pace with 600-name petition
A CAMPAIGN to put a block on plans to extend a landfill site in Seghill is gathering pace following a series of meetings.
Residents in Backworth, Seaton Delaval and Seghill have met over the last few weeks to pledge their support to the 'No To Landfill Campaign'.
A petition containing a staggering 600 signatures has already been put together with many more names expected to be added over the coming weeks.
This follows the news that SITA UK is seeking permission from North Tyneside and Northumberland councils to expand the site, which will see a new access road from Backworth Lane, improved waste reception facilities and a landscaping scheme.
If approved, large parts of the surrounding land could be drained and a stream may have to be diverted to accommodate the new facilities.
But the plans have been met with stiff opposition from nearby residents, who have turned out in force at each meeting, saying they are fed up with the site.
Some have had to put up with the site for the last 40 years, but the new plans could see work continuing at Seghill until 2022 instead of ending on schedule in 18 months.
One of the campaign co-ordinators, Bill Thompson, from Barrowburn Place, near the site, told the News Guardian: "What we are trying to do is make people aware about the plans for the site.
"We are finding a lot of people have had enough of the site and are asking them to write to both councils objecting to the scheme.
"People feel they have done their civic duty as the landfill site has been there a lot of time they have lived there.
"Some people in the village have been there more or less all their lives and have had virtually 50 years of the site.
"It affects our quality of life – in the summer you can't sit in the garden or have a barbecue because of the smell and flies.
"We get rats and other vermin.
"Lots of vehicles run through the village, not just bin wagons but heavy articulated vehicles."
The campaign group also fears if permission is granted the site will not only be used to meet the needs of Northumberland residents by SITA.
"SITA obtain contracts from all the councils to deposit their waste," added Mr Thompson.
"They will deposit whatever waste they like on that site as long as they meet contractual needs.
"There is no guarantee it will be waste from the local area as the site can take whichever waste SITA deems fit."
County councillors Peter Hillman and Elsie Harvey have also given their backing to the campaign.
Despite this, SITA UK area manager Steve Patterson says the expansion is needed to meet an increase in general waste.
"Our decision to extend this site has been very much decided by how quickly the existing site has become full," he said.
"Despite everyone's efforts to recycle more and divert waste away from landfill, there is still a need to provide the facility.
"If the site is not extended, we may have to look at options outside the county.
"This option is not sustainable and means other communities outside the county will have to take the burden of the area's waste."Obviously we are very keen to hear what local people have to say about our plans."
Anyone interested in joining the campaign can email notolandfill@hotmail.co.uk or visit the website www.notolandfill.com for more information.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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