Consultations
Current Consultations
Talk to Central Bedfordshire
Everyone is being given the opportunity to have their say on what they consider to be the most important factors when considering the choice of future housing sites to meet government targets.
The consultation relates to the northern (former Mid Bedfordshire) part of Central Bedfordshire where the Council is required to allocate sites to create a further 5,000 homes by 2026.
Covanta Energy Do you realise that the American company Covanta plan to build the largest waste incinerator in Britain in the Marston Vale at Rookery Pit, Stewartby?This will severely affect the quality of life in the surrounding villages and towns including Ampthill.
The plant will be twice the size of Wembley with a chimney twice the height. In Covanta's own words, ‘the building will be large in view from Ampthill Park’.
730,000 tonnes of waste will be delivered every year including waste from all over the UK. The Marston Vale will in effect become a dumping ground for other people’s waste. The site will operate every day of the year, all day and all night, with vehicles in and out from 5.30 am to 11.00 pm six days a week.
The local authorities are opposing this proposal (as are many local communities and residents), so Covanta have applied direct to Government for approval, which is seemingly bypassing local decision-making.
Covanta will need to get the appproval of the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) which will begin public consultation on 1st March 2010. So to have your say call the IPC from Monday 1st March on 0303 444 5000 or visit www.independent.gov.uk/infrastructure.
Ampthill Town Council strongly opposed these proposals because of our concerns of the effect on our health, impact on the environment, increase in traffic, visual impact on the landscape, and because we believe that councils should be responsible for the disposal of their own waste.
Please sign our petition. Email ourmarstonvalegroup@googlemail.com for a copy or visit the Town Council offices. Alternatively, download a copy:
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Make your voice heard in Bedfordshire! Become a member of the Beds Voice Panel
What is the Beds Voice Panel?
The Beds Voice Panel is made up of 5000 residents of Bedfordshire who have volunteered to be consulted with on a regular basis by the Bedfordshire Consultation Group.
What is the Bedfordshire Consultation Group?
The group is made up of Bedfordshire County Council, Mid Bedfordshire District Council, South Bedfordshire District Council, Bedfordshire Police and the Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service.
Why become a panel member?
By becoming a panel member, you are enabling the Councils, Police and Fire and Rescue Service to learn the views and opinions of local residents on a variety of local issues. The group value local people's views and look forward to hearing what residents think on important issues affecting life in their area and in the county of Bedfordshire.
All personal details will always be treated in the strictest confidence. What residents disclose in the consultations will appear in reports and presentations, but will never identify who said what. All personal information is held under the Code of Market Research and the Data Protection Act by an independent research company called SMSR. The Panel's idenity is kept secret.
Throughout your time as a panel member, we will try to keep you informed about things that are happening. You can expect to receive a newsletter that summarises the outcomes of consultations and how the authorities have used the information to further improve life in Bedfordshire.
You can access information about the panel, find out about past consultations and what's coming up in the future by visiting the Beds Voice website at www.bedsvoice.org.uk. You can also register your email address via the site. If you are interested in becoming a panel member, please contact Claire Jackson at SMSR on 0800 1380845.