Protesters use balloons to demonstrate height of planned Tockwith incinerator (From York Press)

Protesters use balloons to demonstrate height of planned Tockwith incinerator

8:33am Monday 15th June 2009 in Search By Nicola Fifield , Senior reporter

PROTESTERS raised a 31- metre high column of balloons to demonstrate that a planned waste incinerator’s chimney would be a “terrible eyesore”.

The stunt was performed at Tockwith on Saturday as part of the village’s ongoing fight against a planned incinerator on the local industrial estate.

Waste disposal company BCB Environmental Management wants to build the incinerator at Marston Business Park, a proposal which it says would create 18 new jobs and burn up to 60,000 tonnes of waste each year.

But residents of Tockwith and neighbouring villages believe the incinerator would be a health hazard and eyesore.

Tockwith parish councillor Clive Billenness, who is also a spokesman for Tockwith Residents’ Association, said: “People were absolutely appalled by how high it would be. This chimney will have a massive visual impact – it’s going to be an absolute monstrosity on the landscape.

“You can see it right across Marston Moor and from all the surrounding villages.

“It’s a factory column standing in the middle of a rural area and this object will be chucking out emissions.

“Time after time BCB have told us it will be no more dangerous than living in a city centre.

“But what they don’t say is that city centres have 30 times more pollution than we have around here and what gives them the right to raise pollution levels to that level here?”

A spokesman for BCB Environmental Management said that although BCB had proposed a chimney height of 31 metres, the final height would be determined by the Environment Agency to ensure that emissions were not harmful to local people or the environment.

He said: “It is totally irresponsible to say that poison is going to be put out by the chimney.

“It just wouldn’t be allowed and this is irresponsible scaremongering.

“BCB will only get permission for it if it conforms to the very strict restrictions imposed by the Environmental Agency.”

He said careful consideration had been given to the design and position of the building.

He said: “The new building has been realigned to ensure that only the shortest elevation of the building will be visible from the nearest residents of Tockwith.

“Improved landscaping, including the creation of a balancing pool, will further reduce its visual impact.”