Tarrant joins village protest at ‘ash mountain’ dump plan
CHRIS TARRANT has condemned plans to build a “mountain” of ash in the Hampshire countryside.
The TV presenter criticised waste company Fortis IBA Ltd’s proposal to build a five-acre site in the Test Valley, where he fishes. Under the scheme, a concrete dump surrounded by fivemetre high walls would be built to store ash produced by waste incinerators.
The ash – called incinerator bottom ash aggregate (IBAA) – contains a toxic and carcinogenic compound and risks contaminating the River Test, a naturalist said. The river is known for its chalk streams and salmon and trout.
Fortis IBA Ltd submitted a planning application to build a permanent storage site for the IBAA near the villages of Barton Stacey and Longparish.
During the pandemic, when demand for IBAA decreased, ‘‘emergency use’’ for storing huge piles of the material was granted. Now that permission has expired, Fortis IBA wishes to store it permanently on the proposed site.
Tarrant said: “The Test Valley is one of the most beautiful areas of England, rich in rare flora and fauna. It’s a successful breeding habitat and yet here’s yet another company ignoring all the scientific data in the hope of making a fast buck with a horrific and clearly destructive ASH MOUNTAIN!”
Caroline Nokes, MP for Southampton North and Romsey, said: “It is not sustainable from an environmental perspective to have a long-term facility of this type so close to the aquifer.”
Longparish naturalist Paul Knipe said: “The substance is dusty, creates an unpleasant odour and must be protected from leaching into the chalk aquifer.” Around 30 residents gathered on Thursday to protest. Stuart Rippon, 67, said: “We had an ash cloud blow over the village and had quite a few people complaining of breathing problems.”
Fortis claimed that it undertakes dust suppression at the site by spraying water “when required”. It added that “the impact on dust disamenity is considered to be negligible”.
The plans are being considered by Hampshire County Council, which has received more than 50 objections.