Michelle Dolphin - 17-Oct-2007
- The Environment Agency attended the Rugby
Cement Community Forum yesterday evening
(16 October) only to find that their recent
decision to allow the burning of waste derived
fuel at the Cemex Rugby plant was not discussed.
The Environment Agency has recently made
the decision to allow Cemex to start a controlled
trial burn of "Climafuel" at their
Rugby cement works. Climafuel is manufactured
from municipal waste as part of the process
to sort wastes for recycling. It was hoped
that at the meeting yesterday evening people
would be able discuss the decision.
Dr David Hudson, Environment Manager from
the Environment Agency said: “We have become
concerned that attending the Forum isn't
helping residents in Rugby understand what
is happening at the works. We're committed
to a dialogue with people in Rugby and will
be working with Cemex and the Borough council
to see if we can devise some new way of
communicating with the public. It's very
disappointing that, at the time we announced
our decision to allow a further trial of
waste burning at the cement works the forum
preferred to debate a point of order instead."
+ More
Environment Agency holds Cuckmere drop-in
session in Seaford
Lucy Harding - 16-Oct-2007 - The Environment
Agency is holding a drop-in session on its
draft flood risk management strategy for
the Cuckmere estuary in East Sussex. Anyone
with an interest in the area can come along
to the session in Seaford and discuss the
recommendation for the future of the estuary.
The drop-in session is being held at Seaford
Little Theatre in Seaford on Saturday 20
October 2007 from 11am to 5pm. Representatives
will be on hand to talk with you about the
strategy and help answer any questions you
may have.
The Environment Agency has been reviewing
how to manage flood risk in the Cuckmere
estuary. It is recommending to stop maintaining
existing defences to allow the area to go
back to being a tidal estuary. Local people
and visitors have until 10 December 2007
to find out more and comment on the strategy
before it is finalised.
Harvey Bradshaw, Area Manager for Kent
and East Sussex, said: “Climate change and
sea level rise mean that the estuary is
changing and we will have to change how
we manage flood risk here to adapt to this.
If we continued to fight against nature
we would have to put in larger structures
– these would be environmentally damaging
for the estuary and its wildlife and visually
unsightly. It would also be expensive and
we cannot justify spending flood risk money
here to protect a flood plain where no homes
are at risk.”
The Environment Agency has considered the
potential wider impacts of its recommendation.
The proposal will not increase flood risk
elsewhere in the Cuckmere river catchment.
Until the estuary is working as it should
naturally, the Environment Agency will continue
to remove shingle from the mouth of the
river to reduce the risk of flooding upstream.
“This is a beautiful place, enjoyed by
thousands of people each year so we know
that people will have views on its future.
We believe a more natural estuary will still
provide plenty of opportunity for people
to continue to enjoy this wonderful area.
Come along to one of our drop-in sessions
during the consultation period - this is
your chance to find out more about the work
we have done and ask us any questions you
have about the proposal.”
The Environment Agency’s draft flood risk
management strategy is available at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/consultations
by calling 08708 506 506 or email: cuckmere.estuary@environment-agency.gov.uk.
A static exhibition is on display at Seven
Sisters Country Park Visitors Centre during
opening times (10.30am to 4.30pm every day
until 31 October and then 11am to 4pm weekends
only from 1 November).
Further drop-in sessions are being held
on the following dates:
• Seven Sisters Country Park Visitors Centre
Thursday 15 November 2007 4pm to 8pm
Saturday 17 November 11am to 5pm
