More challenges to come in future'

'More challenges to come in future'

By Nicola Irwin, Northwich Chronicle

Dec 30 2003

Protesters have refused to admit defeat after plans to dump toxic waste in Mid Cheshire were finally granted approval by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

The Minosus scheme to create Britain's first underground waste dump at Winsford Rock Salt Mine in Bostock was originally approved following a lengthy public inquiry in July 2002. But the approval was dramatically revoked following a technical error made by the Secretary of State's own department.

Following a review of written submissions, along with planning inspector Andrew Mead's original report from the inquiry, Mr Prescott has decided to go along with the inspector's original recommendation and approved the scheme for a second time. It means about 25 lorries a day will deliver waste to Shaft 4 in Jack Lane, Bostock, where it will be sealed in barrels and taken underground to be stored.

The decision brings an end to a five-year battle against the scheme led by action group RAMP - Residents Against Mine Pollution - which was formed to fight the dump plan. RAMP vice-chairman Chris Whittaker from Petrel Close, Winsford, who has been involved in the battle with Minosus since the scheme was revealed in January 1999, insisted protesters would continue to look into ways they could fight the scheme.

Mr Whittaker said: 'There are still avenues we do wish to investigate. There are ways to review this decision. There have been challenges in the past and there will be in the future. 'I personally am just as opposed as I ever was and I still remain unconvinced as to Minosus's ability to manage such an operation and the risks remain as great.

'In past the company has made a variety of mistakes and we still want further information from it, which it has declined.' He added: 'The fact is that Minosus is doing it for its own commercial benefit and for profit.

'The people of Mid Cheshire and the environment will suffer if it goes ahead and we should do all we can to stop this going through. 'We will keep two very beady eyes on what happens and we obviously have a great deal of environmental concerns because we don't really know what will be put down there.' Mr Whittaker warned residents about some of the problems the scheme could pose.

He said: 'I would suggest people get their houses valued in that area as they will want to have a starting point for when the project comes into operation. 'The roads will get busy and it sets a dangerous precedent. The prospects are nuclear waste will be put in there as well.

'The Government has shown it is only too happy to take other people's rubbish, like the ships from America, so heaven knows what we will eventually get here.'