Opinion - World Environment Day 2020

 

Jon Cruddas MP writes a monthly opinion piece for the Romford Recorder. This month (June 2020) Jon has shared his thoughts on the campaign against the Belvedere waste incinerator, air quality, human health and the climate emergency. The column is due to be published on Friday 12 June, but in light of World Environment Day 2020 Jon has agreed with the RR to share today (June 5). See below.

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Government Approve Belvedere Waste Incinerator

 

Over Easter the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy took the decision to approve development of a second mass waste incinerator at Belvedere. Jon Cruddas MP who launched a campaign against the proposals back in 2018, making official representations and raising a petition of over 2000 local signatories has said: “we knew going into this fight that waste incineration has more than doubled under the Tories, it was always going to be an uphill struggle.”

Environment Agency - Covid-19 Update

 

This week Jon Cruddas MP was contacted by The Environment Agency regarding the measures they have taken in the current crisis to continue operating in accordance with government guidelines.

Chief Executive, Sir James Bevan explained: “Our key priorities are to protect the health, safety and well-being of our own staff, the public and the businesses and partners we work with; to prevent loss of life and serious harm to the environment; and to keep our critical operations running.”

The Fight to Protect Air Quality in Rainham Continues

 

This week the Planning Inspectorate submitted their recommendations for the Belvedere waste incinerator to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Andrea Leadsom MP now has three months to consider the recommendations and decide whether to accept or reject the proposals.

Jon Cruddas MP has been fighting against the plans since they first came to light. Every report and analysis have stated that a second incinerator on the site would be detrimental to air quality, human health and the environment across Rainham and South Hornchurch.

Jon Cruddas MP Raises City Airport Expansion Concerns

 

This week the public consultation on plans to expand London City Airport come to a close. Over the last few weeks Jon Cruddas MP has been contacted by many constituents raising their concerns about impacts on air quality. 

'Meet a Snake' Day at Beam Parklands

 

This Saturday the Barking and Dagenham Park Rangers are teaming up with Snakes Alive to deliver an interactive and educational ‘Meet a Snake’ Day. Full details can be found by clicking HERE

The event will be held from 11:00am - 3:00pm at Beam Parklands which is near The Bull roundabout in Dagenham East, visitors are asked to look for the marquee and flags upon entering the parklands.

TfL Consultation on Ilford-Barking Cycleway

 

Transport for London have launched a consultation to improve cycling and walking routes between Ilford and Barking Riverside. These improvements have the potential to significantly improve access to the new developments in the borough as well ass Barking and Ilford town centres. 

There are also plans for new rail and river links. Many of the roads are currently congested with traffic making walking or cycling intimidating or unpleasant experiences. It is hoped that the proposed improvements will address this issue.

Plans include:

Opposition Launches Air Quality Campaign

 

This weekend (Saturday 22nd June) the Labour Party are launching their Air Quality Campaign in London. Jon Cruddas MP has been campaigning to protect air quality across Dagenham and Rainham since September 2018 when news reached his office of a planned mass waste incinerator in Belvedere, just opposite the constituency.

The proposal is currently under examination by the Planning Inspectorate. Following this period, the final decision will rest with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. 

Free Waterway Training Course in Dagenham

 

This week Jon Cruddas MP has been contacted by Thames21 who are collaborating with Land of the Fanns to host their flagship, accredited course ‘Leading a Waterway Clean Up’ in Dagenham. The course will run over two days (Saturday 11th and 18th May) and will be based in the Eastbrookend Country Park Millennium Visitor Centre, Romford, RM7 0SS.

Jon Cruddas MP Visits Cory Incinerator

On Thursday 25 April Jon Cruddas MP met with Cory Environmental Holdings Ltd on site at the current waste incineration plant in Belvedere, Bexley to discuss their planning application to build a second mass waste incinerator.

In September 2018 Jon launched a campaign and petition against the proposals as a response to numerous reports highlighting there would be detrimental impacts on human health and biodiversity across the south of his constituency.

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