Businesses could be key in helping to stop Wisbech mega incinerator say campaigners

More than 80 protestors gathered in Wisbech on Sunday to lobby local businesses into uniting with the community against plans for a mega incinerator for the town.

The 'the show our unity' event was organised by the Wisbech Without Incineration - WISWin campaign team and saw placard waving opponents to proposals by MVV Environment Ltd to build the waste burner off Algores Way gather on South Brink.

Former councillor Virginia Bucknor, who is one of the leaders of the WISWin group firmly believes getting businesses like Nestlé Purina, Lamb Weston, Lineage and Del Monte on board with the community's opposition will prove pivotal to the campaign's success.

MVV Environment, who are planning their own consultation events, is hoping that energy produced by the waste burner will be bought by the town's big manufacturers.

But Mrs Bucknor said: "If the big companies refuse to take the power then MVV have no where to send their energy, and therefore have no reason to build the incinerator in the first place.

"Nestlé Purina supported the King's Lynn campaign when there were plans to build an incinerator there, and we are hoping they will support the people of Wisbech in the same way."

Sunday's event saw letters delivered to all the key businesses in the Weasenham Lane area asking them to join the fight, with Nestlé Purina's letter varying slightly to highlight the company's own ethos of protecting the environment, and also pointing out its opposition to the King's Lynn incinerator.

Mrs Bucknor said: "It was great to have so many people turn up. It was quite noisy with the traffic, but that was good as it helped raise awareness and we had a lot of cars hooting in support."

Mrs Bucknor is also writing to the planning inspectorate, who will be responsible for making a decision on whether or not MVV Environment can go ahead and build the £300million plant, to complain about the company's lack of transparency.

She said: "They have announced they are holding public consultation on March 16 - that is less than a week away - but they have not publicised where or when it will be held. I have heard it will be at the Oasis Centre - that is wholly unsuitable.

"It is on the opposite side of town to where the incinerator is being built. I wrote to the managing director of MVV some time ago to suggest the Queen Mary Centre would be the ideal venue as it is central, and large enough.

"It is totally unacceptable how MVV are behaving over their consultation event and I want to make the planning inspectorate aware of our concerns."

MVV's own website states: "MVV will be commencing the first of two public consultation opportunities on Monday March 16 and running until Monday May 4. This will include a series of public exhibitions during the weeks beginning March 30 and April 20." But gives no further details.

More than 80 protestors gathered in Wisbech on Sunday to lobby local businesses into uniting with the community against plans for a mega incinerator for the town.

The 'the show our unity' event was organised by the Wisbech Without Incineration - WISWin campaign team and saw placard waving opponents to proposals by MVV Environment Ltd to build the waste burner off Algores Way gather on South Brink.

Former councillor Virginia Bucknor, who is one of the leaders of the WISWin group firmly believes getting businesses like Nestlé Purina, Lamb Weston, Lineage and Del Monte on board with the community's opposition will prove pivotal to the campaign's success.

MVV Environment, who are planning their own consultation events, is hoping that energy produced by the waste burner will be bought by the town's big manufacturers.

But Mrs Bucknor said: "If the big companies refuse to take the power then MVV have no where to send their energy, and therefore have no reason to build the incinerator in the first place.

"Nestlé Purina supported the King's Lynn campaign when there were plans to build and incinerator there, and we are hoping they will support the people of Wisbech in the same way."

Sunday's event saw letters delivered to all the key businesses in the Weasenham Lane area asking them to join the fight, with Nestlé Purina's letter varying slightly to highlight the company's own ethos of protecting the environment, and also pointing out its opposition to the King's Lynn incinerator.

Mrs Bucknor is also writing to the planning inspectorate, who will be responsible for making a decision on whether or not MVV Environment can go ahead and build the £300million plant, to complain about the company's lack of transparency.

She said: "They have announced they are holding public consultation on March 16 - that is less than a week away - but they have not publicised where or when it will be held. I have heard it will be at the Oasis Centre - that is wholly unsuitable.

"It is on the opposite side of town to where the incinerator is being built. I wrote to the managing director of MVV some time ago to suggest the Queen Mary Centre would be the ideal venue as it is central, and large enough.

"It is totally unacceptable how MVV are behaving over their consultation event and I want to make the planning inspectorate aware of our concerns."

MVV's own website states: "MVV will be commencing the first of two public consultation opportunities on Monday March 16 and running until Monday May 4. This will include a series of public exhibitions during the weeks beginning March 30 and April 20." But gives no further details.

Mrs Bucknor said another new development was information from an engineer with knowledge of incinerators and how they work who has highlighted the fact that a highly inflammable liquid will be needed to light the burner.

"It will be stored in massive vats on site, this is highly flammable, highly dangerous liquid and we only have two fire engines within our town, which is deeply worrying."

Meanwhile MP Steve Barclay will be speaking at a public meeting on Friday (13) at the Queen Mary Centre from 6pm. It has been organised by the town council and is open to anyone interested in attending.

Mrs Bucknor said another new development was information from an engineer with knowledge of incinerators and how they work who has highlighted the fact that a highly inflammable liquid will be needed to light the burner.

"It will be stored in massive vats on site, this is highly flammable, highly dangerous liquid and we only have two fire engines within our town, which is deeply worrying."

Meanwhile MP Steve Barclay will be speaking at a public meeting on Friday (13) at the Queen Mary Centre from 6pm. It has been organised by the town council and is open to anyone interested in attending.