Minister meets Havre Des Pas Residents

Deputy Guy De Faye, Minister for Transport and Technical Services (TTS), met with the newly formed La Collette Community Liaison Group on Wednesday night and addressed each of their concerns about the proposed new Energy from Waste facility.

The La Collette Community Liaison Group was set up by Transport and Technical Services for residents in the Havre des Pas area to have an opportunity to discuss issues regarding the new Energy from Waste plant with the Minister and officers from the Department. This was the group’s first meeting.

After receiving a presentation from Will Gardiner, Director of Waste Strategy, about the extensive planning, environmental and health standards that the facility will have to meet, Havre des Pas residents quizzed the Minister and his team for two and a half hours in a lively and open debate on all aspects of the facility and developments at La Collette, including the view that the revised design of the plant would make it a prominent landmark.

John Richardson, Chief Officer of TTS, explained that the evaluation process for the contract to build the plant was designed to reward contractors who minimised the height of the facility and that the landscaping would be made as high as possible to shield the facility from Havre des Pas. Mr Richardson committed that if the project received States approval, the landscaping would be commenced and completed at the earliest opportunity and asked for residents ideas for planting and landscaping the area.

At the end of the meeting, residents thanked the Minister for his openness and for giving residents the opportunity for feedback on the proposals.

After the meeting the Minister said “I am grateful that these local people gave up their time to provide invaluable feedback to the project team on their concerns. Whilst none of them welcomed the new plant, they have understood that it is needed and is becoming a reality. I am pleased with their positive contribution and I have given my personal commitment to take their concerns into account as the project moves forwards.”

Asked about the Constable of St Helier’s “last stand against the incinerator” and the forthcoming Environment Scrutiny Panel public meetings on waste, the Minister said “This new Energy from Waste facility is needed now more urgently than ever, not only because it will dramatically improve air quality on the Island and generate 10% of our electricity but also because the current Bellozanne incinerator, which has served the island for almost 30 years, is on its last legs.”

He continued, “Delaying further, which the Environment Scrutiny Panel want us to do, will only significantly increase the cost that the Island has to pay to manage its waste properly in future.

It is not right that increased recycling and composting kitchen waste will drastically reduce the size of disposal facility required by the Island. It will not and there is no demand from the Island’s farmers for compost derived from food waste.”

The meetings will take place quarterly in future. Anyone Havre des Pas residents wishing to attend should contact Lizzie Richardson in the Solid Waste Strategy Project Team on 448320 or li.richardson@gov.je for details.
Page Last Updated: 01/02/2008