I am extremely concerned by Viridor and Grundon Waste Management’s proposed expansion of the existing Energy from Waste incinerator facility at Ford.
Although the facility is not within the constituency of Arundel and South Downs, I fully understand and share the concerns of residents in Arundel, Tortington, Walberton and Binsted who are rightly anxious about the ramifications of this proposal.
I feel that the significant increase in the number of vehicles along the A27, Ford Lane and Yapton Lane to facilitate the construction and operation of this expanded facility is unacceptable. This increase would negatively affect congestion on these roads and could be detrimental in terms of local air pollution.
Furthermore, the proposed EfW facility’s consented application shows the design of a chimney 85 metres in height, taller than the spire of Chichester Cathedral, with the tallest building proposed to have a height of 22 metres. This means that the proposed facility is nearly double the size of the site originally set out in the planning application approved in 2015. This represents an undesirable blight on the landscape local area in the shadow of the South Downs National Park.
I am fully supportive of my colleague Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP’s action calling on West Sussex County Council to ensure that any expansion of the current facility remain in line with the plans approved in 2015. I also welcome Arun District Council Development Control Committee’s objections to the site.
I do not believe the UK should be exporting waste overseas for disposal but as I understand it, plans already agreed for the expansion of a waste facility in Horsham will make West Sussex ‘self sufficient’ in waste disposal already. Longer term, the answer must be that we all reduce waste and packaging with shorter supply chains and more recycling of materials such as glass and metal containers.
Update: I submitted a response to West Sussex County Council's formal consultation on this proposed development. You can read it at the bottom of the page.