|
|
News
Dear Group Members,
I would like to bring you all up to date with our activities on your behalf and the results of our meetings with those who are dealing with this application. It is important to prefix this letter with a thank you to Stephen Eades, Geoff Brewer, Ted Hatala, Richard Baxter, Lil the Greek, Dr Andy Tubb, Dr. Andrew Murrison MP and Michael Ancram QC MP for their considerable efforts for our endeavours to promote this application as a health issue.
You may be aware that the application has been extended to the end of April for a decision, the reason for this delay has been that the health authority (pct) has requested help from the Health Protection Agency in identifying the issues.
Here we have to be aware that in Rugby’s case the H.P.A. and PCT had their recommendations partly ignored by the Agency, so this is a very live issue for us. Dr Murrison has been quick to identify this as being of consequence to us and has an arranged meeting with the Agency.
Stephen has arranged for a national cement forum meeting with HQ FOE to identify the national concerns relating to the cement communities. All groups are coming where we can update each other on our states of play. From there we hope to develop strategies with FOE support...Rugby have a judicial review and ombudsman looking into their particular site specific issues, they are using my barrister as agreed from our legal meeting from June 2003.
All of the correspondence between ourselves, the Agency and with DEFRA have been sent to my solicitor and barrister to develop our preparation for a case. The reason for this preparation has become focal to the national legal debate, and because our protections by regulation are being eroded by the Agency slim lining the whole process.
If the health bodies also fail to provide the precaution via monitoring and in the improvements in filtration, our only hope then would be the law. I have once again applied for legal aid to cover the legal costs incurred from the recommendations made by the legal people, as being our course of action. We have no money in our coffers therefore I was left with little option. This neatly dovetails with the group’s desperation for membership (£10) fees and donations and that is down to you. Enough said.
REPAC
I have represented the group at the REPAC (Regional Environment Protection Commitee) meeting for the SW and have applied for a vacant post on this Agency protection committee. Both Stephen and I were not that impressed with the level of questioning by this body. They were rubber-stamping very serious issues without the discussion they merited. Both of us have written to REPAC to advise on issues we felt needed addressing.
1/ The failure by the companies to provide the economic BAT assessments for the immediate filtration delivery to the cement industry. For the failure of the Agency to insist that these were done.
2/ For the Agency to upgrade the monitoring for the incineration of SLF in cement kilns
3/ For the Agency to discuss whether this SLF and tyres are recovered fuels or paid for disposal
Both Lilian and I felt that we had made a break through at this meeting where we were listened to rather than tolerated. We had direct contact with policy and decision makers for 1½ hours.
Stephen, Peter and myself, met with Dr. Mark Evans CCDC and the Chair of the PCT today for a 2hour meeting where we identified the major concerns we have about the health implications of this current application. You can review the points we made on our website which you can access via Richard Baxter 01380 830890
W e all felt that we had made a significant impression on them both, especially as they realized they lived within the fallout region themselves. Stephen has coordinated with Dr Andy Tubb UWE who is reviewing the Colin Babb interpreted data for Dr Mark Evans Watch this space as we next meet the PCT Board on the 26 th February when the application will be discussed.
