Anne Main slams PFI funded New Barnfield Incinerator
27th January 2012
As the consultation on the New Barnfield Incinerator comes to a close, Anne reiterates her objections to this proposal and its Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funding.
Anne said:
“Whilst the New Barnfield Incinerator is not in my constituency I believe it will have a negative impact on my constituents. This proposal will increase traffic and inevitably bring waste in from other areas. I also have major concerns over the need for this Incinerator and how it will be funded, namely a PFI funding scheme. This model of funding has been shown to be highly questionable, poor value for the tax payer and has been subject to a negative enquiry by the Treasury Select Committee. I would urge Herts County Council to re-examine the need for an incinerator and, more importantly, its mode of funding.”
The Chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, Andrew Tyrie MP, in 2011 said.
On PFI he said:
“PFI means getting something now and paying later... We can’t carry on as we are, expecting the next generation of taxpayers to pick up the tab. PFI should only be used where we can show clear benefits for the taxpayer.”
Grant Shapps MP added his concerns to Anne’s; he said:
“Although this incinerator is in Hatfield the impact on residents for miles around could be substantial. Built to handle a staggering 380,000 tons of waste, not only would waste from all over Hertfordshire be sent to this one location, but the incinerator will need to be fed with waste from London, Bedford and elsewhere. It is easy to see how it will impact on residents from a wide geographic area. Anyone wishing to fight the incinerator can send money to the legal fighting fund New Barnfield (Action Fund) Trust c/o Grant Shapps MP, Maynard House, The Common, Hatfield, AL10 0NF.”
