Campaign launched to oppose Wirral landfill plans

Jun 3 2009 by Liam Murphy, Birkenhead News

ENVIRONMENTAL experts seeking sites for new waste facilities were criticised this week after leaving critical comments out of a report on the plans.

Last week Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service (MEAS) were accused of ignoring residents’ opposition to possible locations in Wirral for new landfill sites.

It follows consultation over Christmas on several sites across the borough for possible landfill use.

However, Moreton councillor Chris Blakeley said he had been concerned when his and others’ comments had not been included in the report following the consultation.

Now it appears MEAS had a problem with their “database which led to these omissions”. The report by MEAS with the results of their consultation recommend that two sites in Wirral should be investigated further.

These are the Carr Lane brickworks site which is recommended to go forward for “further assessment for landfill capacity”, and the site at Prenton Dell which is proposed to “possibly go forward for assessment subject to further discussions with District Council and landowner”.

MEAS said the report has been removed from their website so it could be updated with the comments, and is expected back this week.

Cllr Blakeley said: “A company like this carrying out such sensitive consultation which can have far-reaching effects on people needs to be accurate.

“This leads me to believe the whole report is flawed, lacks credibility and integrity and I would ask them to start this over again.”

Despite Wirral Council’s cabinet opposing the sites identified by MEAS, the authority – along with Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, and St Helens Councils – had signed up to allow MEAS to carry out the assessment of waste locations.

Prenton resident Grahame Mighall said: “We need to make people aware of what is going on.”