Wake Up
Newton Abbot, Kingsteignton, Chudleigh, and Chudleigh Knighton
The landfill site at Heathfield, Kingsteignton is licensed to take toxic waste up to and including category G. Household waste is category C (nb for a free copy of this license phone the Environment Agency on 01392 444000).
In April 2001 the license was modified to allow the disposal of carcasses from the foot and mouth epidemic. Viridor stated on July 24th that over 6000 tonnes of carcasses had been buried.
The rotting liquid from these carcasses (leachate) is pumped to the domestic sewage pipe at Sandygate and then is pumped through normal sewage pipes. This is done at night and we still do not know why.
The smells and flies this summer have been horrendous. People have reported health problems. Dr. Nagaraj a consultant in Communicable Disease Control for the Local Authority is investigating and can be contacted on 01803 861832).
A list of 24 questions have been sent to Teignbridge Environmental Health Department. They could not answer 16 of the questions and referred them to Pennon PLC (Viridor/South West Water) and DEFRA (MAFF/ Environment agency). Of the questions they did answer very few were complete answers.
The lower temperatures have relieved some of the problems but a quick look at a map of the area shows that our area is going to suffer these problems for tens of years to come. The red area of the above map are clay pits. The holes can be worth more than twenty times their clay content.
The waste disposal license needs to be modified to prevent leachate being discharged into our sewage system and to down grade the type of waste being buried in this landfill site.
It needs more than a few letters or a petition from a minority to make the authorities sit up and take notice. So it really is up to you, your family and friends to raise this issue with these organisations. They will act when they realise a lot of people are worried and asking questions.
A letter has been composed that outlines a number of questions relating to the carcass disposal that need answering.
Please read this letter and if you have the same concerns please write your own letter giving your own personal concerns.
Or, if you are short of time, put your name and address at the top and sign the bottom. Send it immediately to the address shown.
Other Addresses to send letters to are:-
2. Pennon PLC (Viridor/ South West Water), Penninsula House, Rydon Lane, Exeter, EX2 7HR
If you have any queries, want copies of flyers for friends & family or can help in any way please phone The Secretary, KDREAG on 0790 9790740 or E-Mail KDREAG