David
Levy Chair TATWBG
The Air That We Breathe Group was formed in 1995 and currently has about 15 active members with a customised constitution which can call on a base membership of around 400 + . Many members have a monthly direct debit to our group account which has given me the Chair the ability to attend conferences which keep me up to date on developments in waste management and cement kiln technologies.
TATWBG formed because of the move by Blue Circle Industries to introduce tyres into the production of cement replacing some of the base line fuel of coal. Three trials later and it was only by manipulation of data and pressure by government on the Environment Agency and 24% replacement by tyres for coal was permitted. This was despite scientific evidence that proved that production stability had not been proved and a 16week third trial taking 49 weeks. That is what you are up against once government become involved an unfair playing ground
As a private individual I took the EA and the Interested Party Blue Circle Industries to the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand on points of law based on the 1990 Environment Protection Act. If you consider doing a similar thing you MUST document and record all letters and responses and find the solicitor who holds the Legal Aid ticket. My observation on this is government have warned the Legal Aid Commission away from such cases and can do so because they control funding It is also my observation that lawyers are money first second and third so don't expect empathy.
Lastly the courts are loaded towards big business and government so don't expect an easy ride My conclusions, which was with us achieving our goals without the Agency having had the final word against them, because they moved the goalposts before the verdict was in, so the judges revealed they would not waste more time when we got what we wanted; this was not worth the effort, especially as court costs can always be levied against the person on legal aid throughout his/her life
It was also our experience that Dr Martin Bigg Head of the Agency's Industrial Regulation misled the EA Board by telling them that industries have had to pay for alternative fuels. In all my experience that has never happened. This manipulation gives the EA Board an unreal understanding of the dynamics of the economics behind alternative fuels as sources of energy. If Dr Bigg has furthered this mistruth around the country which is my understanding then he has done great damage to the environmental lobby because as companies get paid to take the alternative fuels it provides the economics to improve abatement equipment. This arguement was never allowed airtime and was never fully explored by the scientists in COMHEAP AND NOT ONE EXTRA FILTER HAS BEEN DELIVERED BECAUSE OF THIS INCOME STREAM, which the companies would have made great play about. Baroness Young also went into a Select Committee where the MPs were looking to understand where missing tonnages of waste had disappeared too. Barbara Young knew these tonnages had been reclassified under the Substitute Fuels Protocol into fuels. Hey presto magic but she did not tell the MPs this. Mistruth through omission.
Our groups greatest asset is the relationship we have with our MP Dr Andrew Murrison Shadow Defence Minister and local press who have been instrumental in making our residents well informed and aware of the issues. This is your power base and the public must have respect for you which means you must be precise with facts and don't go too far in what you have to say . Cement Manufacture has an impact on Health and it is a pity that the 1996Environment Select Committees recommendation for health impact assessments BEFORE future trials of alternative fuels was never given consideration by Government. Our Group has written reams of words in umpteen reports but unless you get into face to face meetings with the company you are up against, and have regular meetings with the Agency as well as sit on liaison groups with political parish and technical people you will never hear what is the issue and how to tackle the issue by what these people disclose. Don't be scared of them listen and learn
Consider your arguements and see if the regional television programmes would make a presentation on your case. It may be on health it may be on fraud or on value for money. Make it interesting get the public motivated by exhibitions, meetings press articles. Go and meet the editors of your local rags don't forget the free papers, mine the White Horse News has single handedly supported nearly every letter I've written which exceeds 500
Support UKWIN with your efforts and be aware that we have depths of experience to help educate you as you engage with this war of attrition. Build your support structures around you and plan your strategy for you can make a difference. Our cement plant now owned by Lafarge has a professional outfit who recognise we are not going away and that my group is not just one person who they can isolate but is linked to a network of over forty groups, is internationally linked and maybe better informed about the industry than they sometimes are. Look out for incidents report them to the Agency seek their responses and don't be fobbed off with antything that is not based on sound science, hold them to account and if you are not satisfied insist on a liaison group I go to all of mine with a representative of the MP and Friends of the Earth, three minds are better than one
This is a very short synopsis of what has taken 13 years to develop. You will lose people and will need a mug.like me to carry the banner; it is unrewarded and completely takes over your life but that is what a true Brit is and if you understand the issues then you will now have a Band of Brothers and Sisters to call on when Amy Winehouse sings in the UK WIN Halls
Cordially
David Levy Chair TATWBG
Executive UK WIN / TBG / Marinet