Skip to main content

To: Director of Major Applications & Plans Mark Southgate, The Planning Inspectorate

Whitemoss Landfill Western Extension - Say No to Toxic Waste

Dear Sir,
Please listen seriously to the objections against this landfill extension and consider the views of organisations and people opposing this tip, including MP Rosie Cooper. There are vast implications for public health, and potentially devastating effects on the environment. The geology of this area is such that recent bore -holing by United Utilities for the new multi-million infrastructure development at Bickerstaffe Water Treatment Works would be under threat from polluted leachate water. This site is not suitable for a national toxic waste dump for many reasons.

Why is this important?

The World Health Organisation's Declaration of Human Rights talks about everyone having the right to clean air. This development thus infringes upon the basic human right because it will have a 24/7 burn-off of gases. With Stocks Hall Nursing Home not 100 yards away, football pitches where hundreds of children play right next door, and houses looking onto it, vulnerable people, children and families are under threat of losing this basic human right, not just in the surrounding area but further afield too because of prevailing winds and underground water courses and extensive old coal mine workings. Strange odours already exude from the existing tip and can be smelt in the area, so obviously these emissions, with an unknown cocktail of chemicals, will adversely affect public health.

People in the area have not been notified because of a loop-hole in the law as it is a national infrastructure plan rather than a local plan the latter of which would go through normal planning application processes with proper consultation. So local people have not had much time to raise objections before the dead-line of 11.59 p.m. on Friday, February the 28th, 2014, but the feeling of opposition is strong that there is a rising tide of protest.
Skelmersdale, South West Lancashire; although anyone  in the UK can object.

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

Categories

Updates

2014-03-01 21:07:49 +0000

100 signatures reached

2014-03-01 06:06:52 +0000

50 signatures reached

2014-02-28 21:57:35 +0000

This is a message from Cllr Furey:
I am currently discussing a public demonstration and a march to Whitemoss with colleagues. This is at the early stages yet and I will need to secure funding for printed posters etc. I’ve held back this action until now as I thought it important for local residents to take part in the recent consultation events, gather strong support, raise objections and seek publicity. And I have to say I think this has been achieved and more and this is a credit to everyone invloved. When I spoke on BBC Radio Merseyside Roger Phillips phone-in show he already knew all about it.Thank you for standing up for Skelmersdale – the fight goes on against these plans and the fight goes on...

2014-02-28 21:48:58 +0000

25 signatures reached

2014-02-28 20:52:17 +0000

10 signatures reached

2014-02-28 16:52:46 +0000

Look Northwest filmed protesters at White Moss Estate today. Check future editions of the programme for this. Arrow will be meeting at 12.15 at The Winchester, 96 Liverpool Road
Skelmersdale, Lancs -WN8 8BX to plan the next step of the protest.