Our Campaign

Grant Shapps MP was the first elected representative to raise the alarm about New Barnfield when he meet with residents back in the Spring of 2008 to receive a small petition.

Grounds for objecting to the Veolia Planning Application

You must use grounds for objection that fall within Planning Law, rather than general comments like I just don't like it or it will devalue house prices. Both may be true, but it won't cut any ice with the formal planning process.

The grounds for objection below are provided as suggestions only courtesy of Hatfield Against Incineration.

1. VISUAL INTRUSION
The dome & its stacks would be seen over a wide area and would be extremely visually intrusive from many private
and public places that I use.

2. TRAFFIC NOISE, POLLUTION, CONGESTION AND DANGER
There would be greatly increased traffic, mostly heavy vehicles, to and from the incinerator site with the consequent
pollution, noise, congestion and accident risk increases associated with an increase in HGVs.

3. LOSS OF GREEN BELT
New Barnfield is in the Green Belt and large areas of the site are green undeveloped land, which are actually green
belt and not within the Major Developed Site boundary. The development would go a long way to merging Hatfield
and Welham Green, a key reason for green belt policy originally stopping development, which this development
would directly overturn.

4. LOSS OF AMENITY FOR RESIDENTS
Building this plant at New Barnfield would cause the loss of library facilities, deterioration and adverse impacts on a
nearby Nature-Walk, Right of Way footpath & National Cycle Route 12, as well as nearby recreation grounds. The
plant would also cause deterioration in the amenities provided for the children at Southfield School, both
temporarily and/or permanently.

5. DANGER TO HEALTH
Increase in pollution from HGV traffic would adversely impact local residents’ health, as would known emissions of
gases such as NOx and SO2 from the incinerator. Transportation of toxic ash by road would cause anxiety and
concern, which also have adverse health impacts. The loss of and impact on community amenities for exercise and
for education and leisure would also have an adverse health impact and further anxiety caused by the effect on
selling homes (blight) would make this worse.

6. LOSS OF WILDLIFE, INCLUDING PROTECTED SPECIES
The presence on and near the site of great-crested newts and bats, all European Protected Species, mean this
plant would have an adverse impact on

Most importantly, please use your own words to describe your personal reasons for objecting to the Planning Application.

Respond to the Planning Application consultation by clicking here.

Previous Save New Barnfield information

Even now, heavy goods vehicles are constantly rolling up at the Tesco distribution depot at New Barnfield, but campaigners led by Welwyn Hatfield's MP Grant Shapps, are concerned about the impact created by all of Hertfordshire's waste turning up on our doorstep. It could mean up to 150 extra lorries a day passing along local roads. That's roughly one every TWO minutes...

Basically, the County Council is required by law to find a new way to manage our County's waste. At the moment a lot of it goes into landfill, which is expensive and environmentally damaging. One option could be an Energy from Waste plant but we believe that the New Barnfield site is not the most appropriate location because it is very close to residents.

If you'd like to find out more about the issues relating to waste management then you can visit Hertfordshire County Council's website where they have extensive documentation and maps which explain how changes in legislation require local authorities to dispose of household waste via means other than landfill. Click here for more.

So there ARE other places it could go, and New Barnfield ISN'T necessarily the best place for it to go.

Our campaign is led by the local MP, Grant Shapps and has the backing of the leader of the local Borough Council, Cllr John Dean and his team, together with local Cllr Stuart Pile who represents the area at County. In addition, politicians from all the major political parties have said they oppose the idea of an incinerator at New Barnfield. So, whichever way you vote, this is a cause you can genuinely support.
 

Veolia are the final company in the bidding race

Following a process which already stretched back years, utility company Veolia are the final company bidding. They will make a Planning Application in the coming months which the people of Welwyn Hatfield will be fighting on the basis that placing an incinerator near homes and schools is wrong.
 

Take Action Today

Why don't you join us right now by signing the petition? Click here to sign.

And if you'd like to discuss this issue, why not visit the Welwyn Hatfield Forum and have your say? Click here for the Forum. If you'd like to take part in the discussion there but you aren't registered yet, register here for free!