Keighley MP Robbie Moore has once again raised the Aire Valley Incinerator in Parliament, criticising it’s planning approval by Bradford Council and it being given the green light to operate by the Environment Agency, it what was a very heated debate on this important issue.
The town’s MP, who last year held his own personal debate on the controversial incinerator, argued that both Bradford Council and the Environment Agency were “taking the people of Keighley for fools”. Mr Moore again spoke about the fact the incinerator is proposed to be built at the bottom of a valley in close proximity to schools, homes and playing fields. Mr Moore also raised his concerns again about the implications of temperature inversions, or cloud inversions whereby emissions become trapped in low hanging air due to certain micro climatic conditions. Mr Moore reiterated that on damp days, cloud levels hang low in the Valley, and his concern being that with the proposed stack height of the incinerator being less than other comparable operations, emissions will have an impact on human health and air quality.
In the debate, Mr Moore also raised concerns regarding flawed decision making, comparing Bradford Council’s decision to approve the Aire Valley Incinerator to their recent decision to implement a Clean Air Zone Tax, a tax which Mr Moore is strongly against. Mr Moore cited a Bradford Council Planning report regarding the Aire Valley Incinerator in which the Air Quality Officer had raised no objections, the same report claimed there were “no community safety implications” and the Planning Officer concluded the incinerator would “enhance the quality of the environment”. Mr Moore also referenced the Environment Agency's contribution in the same report in which they had stated their were 'no show stoppers or serious concerns relating to the location of the proposed development.' But yet, Bradford Council took the decision and voted to implement a Clean Air Zone tax on people traveling in and out of neighbouring Shipley and the Bradford city.
The Keighley MP is strongly opposed to the Aire Valley Incinerator and used the debate to highlight his frustration with local decision making at Bradford Council and at the Environment Agency.
Speaking after the debate, Robbie Moore MP said:
“Labour-run Bradford Council’s decision to approve these plans back in 2017 was both completely irresponsible, naive and incredibly ill-judged. How can it be that on one hand their Air Quality Officer is raising no objections, their Planners are saying an Incinerator will enhance the quality of the environment, and the Council are saying there no community safety implications, and yet of the other, Bradford Council are perfectly happy to implement a Clean Air Zone Tax on hardworking people and families. It is all ridiculous.
I am fed up of the leaders at Bradford Council pulling the wool over our eyes and taking us all in Keighley for fools. We do not want the Air Valley Incinerator, and we will not be the dumping ground for Bradford's waste. This is such an important issues and I will use every opportunity I can to raise this in Westminster."
