Fornax
As many of you know, a Hazardous and Clinical Waste Incinerator is being constructed on Heighington Lane. Understandably, this has prompted significant concern within our community. Much has been written in the press and on social media – some informed, but much based on speculation – which has added to the anxiety many residents feel.
As your Ward Councillor, I established a group of local residents back in 2021 to oppose the original planning application. I remain deeply aware of the strength of feeling in our parish and the importance of addressing these concerns openly. From experience, I believe that constructive engagement with Fornax, should the Environment Agency grant them a permit to operate, will be vital in ensuring accountability and reassurance.
To that end, I arranged a meeting with Fornax with three clear objectives:
• To establish a small Steering Committee of councillors and residents,
meeting regularly to scrutinise operations.
• To secure real-time access to site monitoring data at the
Environment Agency’s Newcastle office.
• To ensure Fornax meet directly with local people to listen and
respond to their concerns.
I am pleased to report that Fornax has agreed to the Steering Committee and to making their remote monitoring data available to the council. The live-streaming technology exists, but the EA have to be funded properly to receive it. It may well be a condition of the permit that Fornax have to stream the data directly to the EA office, but the EA is in control of how it gets data from Fornax and if in the future that is live-streaming then they can and will willingly comply. Until then, the EA has legislative powers to demand any data at any time and Fornax has to provide that data as and when asked for it, but I will continue to press this point. While many residents may never welcome the incinerator’s presence, visible and verifiable monitoring would at least demonstrate compliance with Government and DEFRA standards.
In recent months, I have arranged two further meetings between Fornax, members of Heighington Parish Council, and local residents. These discussions have been open and informative. I remain committed to trying to ensure that as many voices are heard and as much accurate information about the Incinerator is fed into the Community.
As such, I would like to thank one of our Parish Councillors for writing a detailed summary which took a considerable amount of time researching and writing up the account of our last meeting. I commend the Report to you.
The Report has now been emailed to everyone in my address book. Although some concerns were raised, the overwhelming majority asked me to pass on their thanks to the Report’s author. Many said it has significantly eased their anxiety about the Incinerator
Chris Lloyd is coming to Heighington
Join us for another enjoyable way to spend an evening, to help raise funds to keep St Michaels looking so good – Chris Lloyd will be giving one of his fascinating talks ‘Four Scandals and a Gooseberry’ in St. Michaels Church, Heighington on 31st January, with doors opening at 6pm for wine and refreshments and a 7pm start. Cost is £10 with tickets from the Church Wardens, Ruth & Gerald Lee 01325 314622 (email: gerald.lee@darlington.gov.uk) – but hurry, tickets are selling well.
Christmas Joy in St Michael’s
Our thanks to all of the 461 adults, plus children, who came into church for the fun 3.00pm Carol Service. It was a wonderful joyous way to celebrate Christmas with lots of singing, fun and oodles of laughter.
Cllr Gerald Lee
