Sponsored by
Leeds waste plant protest kids get networking
Campaigning schoolchildren who are battling the prospect of a "stinking" new waste plant on their doorstep are using the ultimate 21st century tool in their fight – YouTube.
Children from Kirkstall Valley Primary School in Burley appeared on the YEP's front page in November when they wore face masks in protest at the proposals for a new waste treatment facility at nearby Evanston Avenue.
Leeds City Council wants to revive the plant on the same site where a former plant burned down in 2002.
However locals fear the potential of 100,000 tonnes of black bin waste a year and 65 lorries a day travelling past their homes will make the area "uninhabitable".
The waste handled at the plant will come from the north west of the city.
After a meeting between council leaders and political representatives, which they say was fruitless, the WasteNotWanted campaign is now taking a different, hi-tech direction, with a new video – made by local theatre company Interplay – now playing on YouTube.
It features more images of the children showing their disgust at the proposals ads well as s interviews with teachers, local councillors and other concerned people.
The launch of the video follows a visit by local councillor Bernard Atha and Labour parliamentary hopeful for Leeds West Rachel Reeves to similar sites in Shrewsbury and Barnsley, on the invitation of the council.
Coun Atha said the visit had done little to allay locals' concerns.
He said: "The visit, I think, was meant to persuade us that Kirkstall was not going to be a problem, but it did the reverse.
"The smells that plagued Kirkstall were not evident because it was midwinter.
"But the noise was a particular problem, it certainly was audible from a considerable distance away.
"We could hear the glass breaking from a distance and I am sure it could be heard even further.
"There were also very penetrating beeping sounds from the diggers and the backing vehicles were very noisy.
"I like to be open minded but this concerned me."
Coun Atha said he wants an alternative site in Rodley to be considered for the plant, but has been told it is not suitable even though it is big enough,
"The waste will be coming from the north west, from Otley, Rawdon, Pudsey.
"It is ridiculous; they should find a site in the area the waste is coming from."
Miss Reeves claimed campaigners had been "fobbed off" at a recent meeting and she feared the decision had already been made, without proper consultation with locals.
However the council has insisted that locals' fears are groundless. Environment spokesman councillor James Monaghan told them last month: "The original waste station was built in the 1970s. Technology has moved on since then.”
A preferred operator for the new plant is set to be selected in the summer.
Visit YouTube.com and type ‘WasteNotWanted’ or ‘KVPS’ in the search box to see the video and find out more about the campaign.
aisha.iqbal@ypn.co.uk
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
