'Waste plant will stick out like a sore thumb'

THE energy-from-waste plant will ruin the view of Guernsey's coastline. And some States members remain unconvinced that the mass burn incinerator, which will cost taxpayers in excess of £80m., is the right solution to Guernsey's waste-disposal needs.

'It's a big, space-age monstrosity on the approach to our beautiful island,' said Friends of the Earth waste co-ordinator Michelle Levrier.

The appearance of the incinerator, which will be built at Longue Hougue, St Sampson's, is the least of the environmental group's worries.

'We don't think the Board of Administration went for the right incinerator at all and they've put it in the wrong place because it's going to be so big. At first it was going to be sunk into the ground, but it's going to stand out like a sore thumb.

'There's no way it can all be screened. If you are going to have something that big, you've got to make a feature of it.'

She added that the plans unveiled on Monday differed greatly from the original idea.

'Everything has changed so much that we ought to think again.'

Ms Levrier, who is also the douzaine representative for St Sampson's, said that some States members were determined to stop the project going ahead but she felt that it was too late.

'I'm not going to keep banging my head against a shut door. All we can do is make sure that the emission standards are the best we can get.'

Vale deputy Dave Jones said that, if he was lucky enough to be re-elected, he would urge the new States to reconsider building a mass-burn incinerator and think about a different type of technology.

'It's grossly overpriced and these things have a habit of spiralling out of control,' he said. 'I think the true cost to the people of Guernsey has not yet been realised.

'Even though we have already spent so much money, we should re-think this. There is some evidence that these plants are being dismantled because they are not effective and have pollution problems.'

Deputy Roy Bisson was also concerned about the size of the EfW plant. He expressed vehement opposition to building a mass-burn incinerator when the issue was debated by the States.

'It's huge, despite the pictures that have been done. Its size is equivalent to two of the new post offices side by side and stacked three on top of each other,' he said.

Deputy Bisson was also unhappy that the plant would mean higher refuse costs for islanders.

'It's going to treble or quadruple everybody's rates to pay for it. It's going to be £100m. plus operating costs for the taxpayer.'

It was not too late to reverse the decision to build the plant.

'It can be stopped, though we would probably have to pay some loss of profits to the contractor, but it would still be cheaper to stop it than carry on with this nonsense.'

Several islanders opposed to the project have contacted Deputy Bisson.

'There has been constant concern from people over emissions, the cost of the operating, the cost of putting it up and the visual impact. A lot of people have been complaining and are very concerned about it. The drawing is even bigger than the original plan. It's bigger and taller.'