At a Council meeting this week SAIN (Slough Anti-Incinerator Network) held an energetic demonstration (despite the rain!) leafleting councillors on their way to the meeting. Later SAIN were successful in securing more time to make sure the Council and legal assistance consider the case of the Colnbrook Incinerators fully.
Slough Borough Council originally wanted to make a decision at the meeting on Tuesday on whether to revoke the planning consent given to Grundon Waste Management Ltd by the previous Council. However, considering the situation, SAIN believed that the matter could not possibly be dealt with at this short notice. After moving the issue to the start of the agenda and hearing demanding questions from residents and a lawyer, the Council agreed that the issue must be postponed and considered fully before an extraordinary Council meeting will make a decision.
Over the past few months, the council were supposed to have (and claimed they had) retained the services of two lawyers. However, the truth is that whilst one QC (who just happens to be the Shadow Lord Chancellor for the Tory party) was retained, the other independant lawyer was apparently 'forgotten'. Finally, due to pressure from SAIN, this 'forgotten' lawyer has now been sent the information he needs and has given his advice to the Council. This is over 40 pages long and could not have been considered properly before Tuesdays meeting.
In addition to this, threats have been aimed at councillors that if they dare to keep their promises and revoke the planning permission, Grundon may sue and bankrupt the council. For daring to take an interest in plans that affect us we find ourselves threatened by big business. We are confronted by institutional barriers to local democracy. The compensation might even be based on profits Grundon have not even made yet! However, the opinion of several legal experts is that this threat is simply an exaggerated guess and entirely misleading. Either way we demand that the council stand up to big business and represent the interests of the people instead of the interests of 'the largest private waste firm' in Britain.
SAIN believe this was an important victory, and will continue working with the Council and legal assistance to ensure that the case is now examined properly and fully.
Over the past few months, the council were supposed to have (and claimed they had) retained the services of two lawyers. However, the truth is that whilst one QC (who just happens to be the Shadow Lord Chancellor for the Tory party) was retained, the other independant lawyer was apparently 'forgotten'. Finally, due to pressure from SAIN, this 'forgotten' lawyer has now been sent the information he needs and has given his advice to the Council. This is over 40 pages long and could not have been considered properly before Tuesdays meeting.
In addition to this, threats have been aimed at councillors that if they dare to keep their promises and revoke the planning permission, Grundon may sue and bankrupt the council. For daring to take an interest in plans that affect us we find ourselves threatened by big business. We are confronted by institutional barriers to local democracy. The compensation might even be based on profits Grundon have not even made yet! However, the opinion of several legal experts is that this threat is simply an exaggerated guess and entirely misleading. Either way we demand that the council stand up to big business and represent the interests of the people instead of the interests of 'the largest private waste firm' in Britain.
SAIN believe this was an important victory, and will continue working with the Council and legal assistance to ensure that the case is now examined properly and fully.
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