Portobello PONGS

MONDAY 8TH FEBRUARY - THE PUBLIC INQUIRY BEGINS!!
So here is what happened in case you havent been able to attend in person...

First of all, some info about arrangements. We were told this morning that the inquiry will now start at 10 am each day and will finish about 4.30 - 5 pm. There is tea and coffee available in the morning but not in the afternoon. The lunch break is from 1-2 pm.

A good start to the inquiry today with around 70 people attending over the course of the day, aged from 18 months to 80+! Let's keep it up - please tell friends, family and neighbours. It should hot up as the week progresses and the evidence from the Joint Action Group witnesses on Thursday and Friday will be expressing all the concerns that the community has raised over these plans.

The inquiry started with the precognition of David Brignall who was talking about the need for the facility. Viridor also produced a last minute document which claimed to explain how the alleged 40% saving in
carbon emissions would come about from the use of rail to send waste from Portobello to Dunbar. Our QC soon made short work of this, getting Mr Brignall to admit that there was an error in the documentation about amounts of waste they claimed would be transported down to Dunbar, declaring Viridor's information appropriately enough to be rubbish! It was agreed that, as it was unclear where the waste would be coming from, it was impossible to calculate any potential carbon savings. Mr Brignall admitted that nowhere in any waste strategy or waste plans was the need for this facility identified. He
acknowledged that actually the application was there to serve Viridor's commercial need and get them an advantage in the market place should a need to replace Powderhall arise. Exactly what we have said all along.

Tomorrow the Viridor witnesses continue with precognitions on visual impact, odour and possibly traffic if time allows.

PUBLIC INQUIRY STARTS MONDAY 8 FEBRUARY 10 AM

The inquiry starts on MONDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2010 at 10 AM and the venue is the ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, BAILEYFIELD ROAD. The inquiry is expected to last around seven working days.

Viridor representatives will be giving their evidence for the first three days of the inquiry, followed by the Joint Action Group on Thursday and Friday 11 and 12 February, with representations on behalf of PONGS, Portobello Amenity Society, Portobello Community Council, Brightons and Rosefield Residents’ Association and the Christians residents, as well as representations on visual impact, sustainability and planning issues. Local councillors and our MSP will probably appear w/c 15 February. The inquiry will not sit on Monday 15 February.

This is a PUBLIC inquiry and anyone can attend, so please do try and come along to hear what is said. Local residents who are speaking at the inquiry would very much appreciate your support. Don't hesitate to bring your kids!
Also, public objection is a material consideration so let’s make sure the Reporters see for themselves how much objection there is to these plans.

You can call in for half an hour, half a day or a full day if you like, it really is at your own convenience but please do try and make it along to the inquiry when you can!

If you have not yet donated but would like to do so, you can donate either by sending a cheque (payable to PONGS) to: PONGS, c/o 12 West Brighton Crescent, EH15 1LU. Alternatively, you can transfer money directly into the PONGS bank account, a/c no: 06002278, sort code: 80-18-31.

Please support the fundrasing events.....