Nigel Rock Challenges Case for Cemex Plant at Southam

12.43.59pm GMT Sun 16th Nov 2008

Nigel Rock PPC outside public meeting at Long Itchington

Liberal Democrat PPC Nigel Rock has challenged the case being made by Cemex to build a waste recycling facility at Southam. In a formal submission to Warwickshire County Council's Regulatory Committee, Nigel states as follows:-

"I refer to my previous comments as part of the scoping process, which I attach for your convenience. Many of the points made are still valid, however the scoping process correctly resulted to the consideration of a site virtually co-located with the cement plant where the fuel would be consumed. In essence therefore we have to compare the alternative sites as well as examine the principle of energy from waste.

"Using energy from residual waste appears an attractive proposition and there is considerable precedence from elsewhere (principality in mainland Europe) for satisfactory processing, under proper control and regulation. I therefore support the principal of energy from residual waste which cannot otherwise be utilised, as it is clearly more desirable to reuse materials where this is pragmatically possible. The market for recyclate derived from domestic waste is developing quickly, enabling much more of the material to be reused. Improved recycling rates will remove much energy bearing material from the waste stream feeding the plants, with the possibility of reducing the calorific value. This may call into question the long term benefits and viability of plants such as that proposed.

"Whatever other considerations apply, it is axiomatic that maximum environmental benefit will accrue by processing the waste where the output fuel will be used, or as close thereto as possible. There would need to be some overwhelming case to do otherwise. I believe there is no such case, in fact the balance lies in the opposite sense.

"The "Southam" site overlaps Long Itchington, Southam and Stockton parishes, predominately rural areas served by long established A roads with a poor accident record and only one town - Southam - with a bypass. (Even the Southam bypass does not bypass the town, by some quirk of design.) Traffic movements for waste in, "climafuel" out, and recyclate out cannot be combined, so a good transport infrastructure is essential. The operators will surely seek to maximise input waste from a wide area which might be, say, a 50 mile radius. ie not just from Warwickshire but potentially from other sources according to operational pressure. For instance Stratford is presently shipping some waste to Aldridge, and Ufton has received waste from Staffordshire. Good road links and (preferably) rail links should therefore be near the plant. Estimated comparison as follows:

Southam - Traditional road network with no restructuring.

Distance to motorways by A road:

M40 J11 14 miles,

M1 J16 13 miles.

Rail - reinstated line would be required

Rugby - New western relief road.

Distance to motorways by A road:

M6 J1 3 miles,

M45 J1 5 miles.

Rail - West Coast Mainline 0 miles

"At its most basic, the traffic movements between Southam and Rugby would emit between an estimated 50,000 and 100,000 tonnes of extra CO2 compared with a Rugby MBT operation, over 40 years.

"Finally, the case for reopening the rail link between Southam and Rugby still exists, if only for clay transport. It is disappointing to see the five year old arguments still being deployed. Since then we have had the Stern report, and huge rises in fuel cost. As recently as last month the Government propose £60m funding to shift freight from road to rail (the Sustainable Distribution Fund). This still should be explored and appears to be neglected by this application."