Belvedere Incinerator
Encyclopedia
The Belvedere Incinerator is an incineration
facility under construction in Bexley
managing waste from the Western Riverside Waste Authority and other local authorities in London
with a capacity of 575,000 tonnes waste per annum. A plant processing twice the waste capacity was initially proposed 15 years ago by Cory Environmental
and has undergone significant planning delays. It is close to the site of the former oil-fired Belvedere Power Station
, which was decommissioned in the 1980s; this is now the 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) Isis Reach industrial park. It is due to open in April 2011.
The facility was finally given permission by the Department of Trade and Industry for constructing to begin in June 2006, in spite of widespread local opposition. Within a few weeks of the decision being made, a petition organised by the local community and local Councillors and signed by 5,000 people was delivered to Downing Street to highlight to the Prime Minister the local opposition to the Government's decision.
Bexley Council, along with Ken Livingstone
, the then Mayor of London
attempted to block the plans by forcing a judicial review
of the development. On January 4 th, 2007 the judge presiding on the case dismissed the challenge and the incinerator was given the go ahead to build within the next 3 years. However, Bexley Council and Ken Livingstone again challenged the construction of the incinerator on the basis that it was energy inefficient as it did not utilize the waste heat from the incineration process and was thus not in London's best interests. In February 2007, Bexley Council and the Mayor of London yet again pursued for the prevention of the construction of the Belvedere Incinerator in High Court of Justice
in London.
Opposition centres round the possibility of emissions from the incinerator, which add to the local concerns about existing industrial risks in lower Belvedere. There has been a long standing dispute with Thames Water
about the smell from the sewage works and the ineffectiveness of attempts to force an end to these adds to local concerns regarding fumes. A further concern raised is that while Bexley Borough has one of the best recycling records in London, this will be offset by the fact that other boroughs wil be evading recycling by having their refuse incinerated in Bexley.
Incineration
Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other high temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas, and...
facility under construction in Bexley
Bexley
Bexley is an South East London]] in the London Borough of Bexley, London, England. It is located on the banks of the River Cray south of the Roman Road, Watling Street...
managing waste from the Western Riverside Waste Authority and other local authorities in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with a capacity of 575,000 tonnes waste per annum. A plant processing twice the waste capacity was initially proposed 15 years ago by Cory Environmental
Cory Environmental
Cory Environmental is a large waste disposal company based in the United Kingdom. Cory operates in more than 30 locations throughout England, providing services in the collection, recycling and disposal of waste as well as municipal cleansing.-Operations:...
and has undergone significant planning delays. It is close to the site of the former oil-fired Belvedere Power Station
Belvedere Power Station
Belvedere Power Station was an oil-burning power station on the Thames at Belvedere, south east London. When built the site was in Kent, later in Greater London....
, which was decommissioned in the 1980s; this is now the 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) Isis Reach industrial park. It is due to open in April 2011.
The facility was finally given permission by the Department of Trade and Industry for constructing to begin in June 2006, in spite of widespread local opposition. Within a few weeks of the decision being made, a petition organised by the local community and local Councillors and signed by 5,000 people was delivered to Downing Street to highlight to the Prime Minister the local opposition to the Government's decision.
Bexley Council, along with Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
, the then Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
attempted to block the plans by forcing a judicial review
Judicial review
Judicial review is the doctrine under which legislative and executive actions are subject to review by the judiciary. Specific courts with judicial review power must annul the acts of the state when it finds them incompatible with a higher authority...
of the development. On January 4 th, 2007 the judge presiding on the case dismissed the challenge and the incinerator was given the go ahead to build within the next 3 years. However, Bexley Council and Ken Livingstone again challenged the construction of the incinerator on the basis that it was energy inefficient as it did not utilize the waste heat from the incineration process and was thus not in London's best interests. In February 2007, Bexley Council and the Mayor of London yet again pursued for the prevention of the construction of the Belvedere Incinerator in High Court of Justice
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
in London.
Local opposition
The incinerator is strongly opposed by the a proportion of the local population, via the local action group BADAIR, local Councillors, and the local council.Opposition centres round the possibility of emissions from the incinerator, which add to the local concerns about existing industrial risks in lower Belvedere. There has been a long standing dispute with Thames Water
Thames Water
Thames Water Utilities Ltd, known as Thames Water, is the private utility company responsible for the public water supply and waste water treatment in large parts of Greater London, the Thames Valley, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Kent, and some other areas of in the United Kingdom...
about the smell from the sewage works and the ineffectiveness of attempts to force an end to these adds to local concerns regarding fumes. A further concern raised is that while Bexley Borough has one of the best recycling records in London, this will be offset by the fact that other boroughs wil be evading recycling by having their refuse incinerated in Bexley.
See also
- List of incinerators in the UK
- Waste authorities in Greater LondonWaste authorities in Greater LondonGreater London has a number of waste disposal authorities, responsible for waste collection and disposal. Prior to the abolition of the Greater London Council in 1986, it was the waste authority for Greater London.-Joint authorities:...
- Waste-to-energyWaste-to-energyWaste-to-energy or energy-from-waste is the process of creating energy in the form of electricity or heat from the incineration of waste source. WtE is a form of energy recovery...