Incinerator protest balloon 'shocks'

By kmiddleton

THE chimney height of the proposed incinerator may be seen from across the county, after a balloon launched last week hovered high above the manmade landscape of Clay Country.

On a clear day the 120-metre stack, part of the planned energy from waste plant to deal with Cornwall's household waste, is likely to be seen from Goonhilly, Carn Brea and Newquay.

The skies cleared and the wind dropped to finally allow the balloon to be launched last Wednesday after several failed attempts.

Villagers gathered in the streets, gazing in amazement at the balloon which sat high above St Dennis.

David James, 48, stood at St Dennis Church with his child quietly asleep in a buggy as he stared at the balloon in horror.

He said: "I knew it was going to be high but this is vast; I didn't realise how big it was; it's staggering.

"Not only that, but they're going to desecrate all of the green fields you can see and put a road in; it's criminal.

"It's going to cast a shadow over St Dennis."

Mother-of-two Katy Eggleton, 37, a governor at the local primary school, said: "I can't believe it.

"It isn't just a case of not in my back yard, this technology is outdated now; it's like a dinosaur."

The launch was arranged by Cornwall County Council, which is due to make a decision on the proposal on March 12.

Mr James said that after seeing the height of the balloon he felt it was vital for councillors to visit the site to see the "astonishing" height of the proposed stacks.

Parliamentary candidate Dick Cole said: "Once the balloon was raised to show the full height of the proposed chimney, it was clear that if it's allowed to be built this massive plant would be a monster.

"It would dominate St Dennis and the surrounding area in a totally unacceptable way."

St Dennis anti-Incinerator Group chairman Ken Rickard added: "It has certainly sparked more opposition in the village; people are disgusted.

"I cannot believe that our fellow human beings are going to impose this monstrosity on our community."