Proposed waste depot in Portobello

by **wangi** » 04 Oct 2007, 12:42

A copy of the October "PONGS" leaflet can be viewed at:

http://talkporty.org/hosted/pongs/october-07.pdf

Marya, I think you were asking above about contact details for this group - It's Caroline Hosking - details in the PDF. I wish the obsession with acronyms would end!

by **Maria** » 04 Oct 2007, 17:00

by **Bob Jefferson** » 04 Oct 2007, 17:12

From today's EN:

by **Maria** » 05 Oct 2007, 14:44

by **Maria** » 30 Oct 2007, 10:25

Last night's Community Council meeting discussed a very thorough and detailed letter of objection, which we will be sending in regarding Viridor's proposal.

Please remember to send in your own email or letter by this Friday's deadline - 2 Nov. Contact addresses and suggested grounds for objection are to be found . I believe some folk have sent in emails simply saying that they object to the proposal. I'm afraid it isn't enough to say that you object - you must give at least one reason for your objection, be it noise, traffic, etc.

If you miss the deadline PONGS members will be out this Sat once more on the High Street collecting signatures for our petition and offering standard letters of objection for folk to sign. We intend to hand deliver these submissions in time for them to be considered. We've had an excellent response so far so please keep them coming everyone!

by **Maria** » 02 Nov 2007, 14:59

Anyone hear today's 'Good Morning Scotland' piece about the proposal?
David Calder's report included excellent interviews with Cllr. Child, Diana Cairns (both of PONGS) and Stuart Hay from 'Friends of the Earth Scotland'. Viridor didn't accept an invitation to contribute to the programme.

You can listen to the programme again by accessing a link from . The report starts about 1 hr 35 mins into the programme and lasts for about 5 mins.

Objections stand at an impressive 500 and rising so keep them coming! Officials state that as long as objections are 'on the desk' by Mon morning they will be accepted, so PONGS will be out in force again this Sat on the High Street gathering more signatures and giving residents the opportunity to complete letters of objection. See you then!

by **Bob Jefferson** » 02 Nov 2007, 17:35

From the BBC News online:

by **Bob Jefferson** » 02 Nov 2007, 17:36

From the EN today:

by **wangi** » 02 Nov 2007, 19:17

On STV:

by **Maria** » 23 Nov 2007, 13:18

by **Bob Jefferson** » 24 Mar 2008, 18:20

From today's EN:

by **Porty** » 08 May 2008, 12:31

Good letter in today's EN:

Rubbish site would waste quality of life in Portobello

There is growing concern in the community that despite 650 individually written objections, a further petition and universal objection from local Portobello councillors and politicians including Gavin Strang MP and Kenny MacAskill that the proposed waste transfer plant at Harry Lauder Road may be recommended by our council offices.
This site will be used to transfer commercial and domestic waste from the Lothians and beyond into Edinburgh which will then be delivered by train to East Lothian.

It is worth noting that waste management firm Viridor is allowed to appeal and request a public inquiry if their proposal is unsuccessful.

Local residents have no right of appeal.

On a personal basis I am a very concerned 56-year-old local resident who has never before written a letter to the Evening News let alone joined a campaign group to oppose a development.

The basis of our objections is:

• That a commercial company would appear to be dictating the council's waste strategy through this application.

• The waste transfer site would be the largest in a residential area in Scotland.

• It would generate an additional 900-plus HGV trips in and out of an already heavily congested Portobello every day.

• The area would be blighted by high levels of noise, smell, light pollution and vermin.

Make no mistake, this is a massive issue for Edinburgh and in particular the Portobello and surrounding area.

I am a member of PONGS (Portobello Opposes New Garbage Site), a campaign group opposed to this development.

Rab Leslie, Argyle Crescent, Edinburgh

by **Maria** » 08 May 2008, 17:28

Unfortunately, as Rab says in his letter, we (PONGS) believe that the Council planning officer will be recommending approval of this application (). In another disappointing piece of news, SEPA has now withdrawn its objections to the application - for example,Viridor's suggestion that more 'training' be given to those loading the trains in order to cut down on noise was deemed acceptable to SEPA :roll:

It is so very important, that the many local residents, who have already objected to this waste transfer site, continue to make their views known. The Planning Committee must not approve this site, which will be hugely detrimental to Portobello. Please note that Cllr Child who sits on the planning committee will not be able to vote on this issue, as she has already stated her opposition to the proposal and indeed continues to do so.

The planning committee date for this application has not yet been set, but it could be late May/early June.

Please keep checking www.portobellopongs.com for information.

by **Porty** » 08 May 2008, 19:19

by **Maria** » 08 May 2008, 20:29

by **Bob Jefferson** » 10 May 2008, 18:27

From today's EN Letters Page:

by **Bob Jefferson** » 13 May 2008, 11:01

From today's EN Letters Page:

by **Bob Jefferson** » 17 May 2008, 12:38

From today's EN Letters Page (2nd letter down):

by **Mark Cameron** » 18 May 2008, 09:57

by **Maria** » 18 May 2008, 11:16

Welcome to the forum, Mark.

The final date for letters of objection has now passed, but you can still email, write or visit the surgery of councillors on the planning committee to voice your concerns. The councillors will not be allowed to give an opinion, but will take note of your objections. Cllr Child has already stated she is against the proposal, so will not be able to vote on this application. She will also address the committee prior to the vote being taken.

It is now thought that the date for this application to come before the committee will be the end of June/beg. July, but it is still to be confirmed and may be later.

The relevant people are :

Councillor Lowrie (Convener) (Scottish Liberal Democrat)
Councillor Dundas (Scottish Liberal Democrat)
Councillor Morris (Scottish Liberal Democrat)
Councillor Peacock (Scottish Liberal Democrat)
Councillor Thomas (Scottish Liberal Democrat)
Councillor Keir (SNP)
Councillor McIvor (Vice Convener) (SNP)
Councillor Munn (SNP)
Councillor Hinds (Labour)
Councillor Child (Labour)
Councillor Milligan (Labour)
Councillor Mowat (Conservative)
Councillor Rose (Conservative)
Councillor Paisley (Conservative)
Councillor Burgess (Green)

Unfortunately I don't have time right now to provide links from their names, but I shall try to do so later. In the meantime, you can find contact details for each of them on the

by **BeachBum** » 18 May 2008, 11:52

by **Maria** » 18 May 2008, 11:59

by **Maria** » 27 May 2008, 16:02

From today's Evening News (2nd letter down)

by **Maria** » 02 Jun 2008, 09:27

by **Bob Jefferson** » 04 Jun 2008, 22:19

by **Bob Jefferson** » 05 Jun 2008, 18:04

by **Maria** » 05 Jun 2008, 19:40

by **Grunk** » 06 Jun 2008, 11:13

by **wangi** » 06 Jun 2008, 11:35

by **Grunk** » 06 Jun 2008, 12:08

by **Peter Bradley** » 06 Jun 2008, 13:12

by **Grunk** » 06 Jun 2008, 13:20

Link to the article mentioned above:

http://www.eh8.org.uk/sites/eh8.org.uk/ ... 2816_1.jpg

by **seanie** » 06 Jun 2008, 13:50

There's no third party right of appeal in the Planning system.

by **Grunk** » 06 Jun 2008, 15:13

by **Grunk** » 06 Jun 2008, 16:09

Proposed waste depot in Portobello

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