MORE than 100 people from across the country including nine Essex MPs and three Essex county councillors joined forces to take part in a Parliament lobby organised by Essex Friends of the Earth last Wednesday.

The meeting, entitled 'The Threat of Waste Incinerators in Essex', was held at the Boothroyd room, Portcullis House, Westminster. It was preceded by a rally Stop Britain Burning outside the House of Commons.

Essex representatives included Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing, North Weald district and parish councillor David Stallan, Ongar district and parish councillor Derek Jacobs and Ongar parish councillor Barbara Szymanek.

Mr Stallan said: "It was very successful. I hope our effort triggers a positive action from the government. The number of Essex representatives who took part shows not only our feelings, but local people's feelings about incineration in Essex."

Mrs Laing said: "The issue of how we dispose of our waste is not about our own locality or even Essex, but about the whole country. I'm very concerned that there may still be plans for an incinerator at North Weald.

"Whatever one thinks about the pros and cons of incineration, one of my main objections is that we don't have adequate transport links. I don't want to see more and more heavy lorries thundering through towns and villages, bringing waste to be disposed of in North Weald."

Meanwhile, fears of legal action against the county council for adopting the Essex and Southend Waste Plan and the government for not calling it in continue to grow.

Essex Friends of the Earth co-ordinator Paula Whitney said: "We don't want to say a lot at this stage but we, with the full backing of certain councillors, are in the process of seeking legal opinion."

November 13, 2001 10:59