Letter to Pickles: UK’s Worsening Air Quality
Dear Mr Pickles,
AIR POLLUTION IN THE UK IS GETTING WORSE. STOP THE BARTON RENEWABLE ENERGY PLANT IN GREATER MANCHESTER.
As you are aware air pollution is getting worse, but the visible signs (see photograph) are not the only cause for concern. Invisible particulates, chemicals and heavy metals are breathed in, absorbed into the blood, circulate the body and damage organs when they come to rest.
Traffic fumes and industrial, waste incineration and power generation emissions will have massive negative health impacts on us all, but especially the children.
The deliberate incineration of waste and burning wood (so-called BIOMASS) pollutes the air we breathe and contributes to increases in asthma, COPD, heart attacks, strokes, cancer, autism, Alzheimer’s disease and premature death.
The Breathe Clean Air Group in Trafford, Greater Manchester has been campaigning to STOP the Barton Renewable Energy Plant for over three years. We know that it is a waste incinerator (to dispose of the Peel Group’s waste), posing as a generator of renewable electricity. We (ie the UK) don’t need this dirty electricity. We have a cleaner gas-fired power station a few miles away in Carrington.
There is evidence to support the case that people living downwind of an incinerator are at greater risk of illness, premature death and infant mortality, than people upwind.
Trafford Council has challenged your decision to allow the building of this dirty incinerator. The hearing will take place in February. As Secretary of State for Communities, you have the responsibility to protect us. You also have the power to STOP the Barton Renewable Energy Plant by withdrawing your recommendation to grant planning permission.
The people of Trafford ask you to WITHDRAW, and STOP the proposed, polluting, Barton Renewable Energy Plant.
Thanking you in anticipation, Peter Kilvert, Chairman, Breathe Clean Air Group
