Telford & Wrekin Council Watch - Call For A Health impact Assessment

Call For A Health impact Assessment

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Written by johnfranklyn

Monday, 20 October 2008

Call for a Health Impact Assessment

Communities up For Incinerator Fight

Communities around Telford and Wrekin are now up for a fight against an incinerator on the Granville.

Whilst there are a number of benefits to incineration, the risks to public health out way any benefit.

So What Are the Health Risks and where do they come from

It is believed that the proposal for the new plant will filter airborne particles down to PM5 size, but the issue of health risks revolve around the smaller particles that are considerably smaller and are PM2.5.

What are the Health Risks from Particles of this size.

· increased total mortality;

· increased respiratory deaths;

· increased cardiovascular deaths;

· increased cancer deaths;

· increased risk of premature births and infant mortality;

· increased risk of pneumonia;

· increased risk of postneonatal mortality from respiratory disease and sudden infant death syndrome;

· increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits;

· increased hospital admissions, emergency room visits and surgery for respiratory and cardiovascular conditions;

· exacerbation of asthma attacks, increased bronchodilator use and increased hospital admissions due to asthma attacks;

· increased pneumonia, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;

· increased respiratory symptoms in both the lower and upper respiratory tract;

· decreased lung function;

· increased incidences of rhinitis;

· increased absenteeism and increased number of days of restricted activity.

It is well known that the health effects will not be immediate, but are likely to occur over a 10 year period after residents, those living and yet to be born have in hailed the dangerous particles, therefore this installation will be poisoning future generations, some of whom are not yet born.

We have no choice but to call openly and loudly for a full public debate and a full

Health Impact Assessment

With any HIA concentrating on health affects of residents living down wind of of any incinerator.

Public Meetings are being held

A public meeting is arranged for Dr Dick van Steenis to speak TOMORROW Tuesday 21 October at Sheriffhales Village Hall, 6.45pm, on the health impacts of the proposal.

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH

Wed. 19 November at Turreff Hall, Turreff Avenue, Donnington. Watch out for further information. Keith Kondakor, a recent EarthMover award winner, will be our keynote speaker.

Members acting on behalf of SITA have already said that the life of the Incinerator is expected to be approximately 25 years. A short term plan than will have a negative impact on public Health for decades.

Telford and Wrekin Council Watch is now calling for a Health Impact Assessment with the assessment concentrating on health effects of residents living down wind of the incinerator.

HOUSING SUMMIT

The Housing Summit was quite a feature of the Full Council of 25^th September 2008 and became quite a political game of ping pong.

Some Councillors are saying how this topic has gone very quiet, it has and that is because of the politician.

In a letter addressed to myself on 11^th September 2008 it said,

“I have asked for a meeting to be set up with a Senior Representative of the Council and the Trust to discuss the scope of the Summit. I want this meeting to take place in the next two or three weeks and I will ensure that you are invited”

You wont be surprised to note that this never happened and the date for a Housing Summit is said to be set for 17^th November 2008, but this is yet to be confirmed from any official source.

A Parish Councillor has said that I

“Get up his nose”

To that, I say

“Tough”

Maybe you would change your mind if you had the courtesy to actually speak to me, which you have never done.

There is a grave concern that any Summit will be held behind closed doors and exclude Residents and agencies who regularly work with and assist residents who have housing and/or homelessness problems.

MP Mark Pritchard has been very quiet on the issue of Housing, especially Social Housing and Homelessness,

“So just where do you stand MP Mark Pritchard?”

Do you know that Telford and Wrekin Council are the major referrer to places like the KIP PROJECT, yet give them nothing in terms of financial support, not even match funding.

Is anyone aware that Brunel House has closed down and those benefitting from the support offered are now spread out across the Borough in bed and breakfast?

The demand for Social Housing is increasing daily, yet it remains a very quiet topic.

Homelessness is going to increase.

Non Statutory Homelessness will increase yet only the third sector do anything to assist.

We need a return to Council Housing and affordable rents, not “affordable housing” that very few can actually afford.

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