Wisbech incinerator meeting at Oasis Community Centre

MVV Environment is being heavily criticised over how it organised a meeting at a community centre in the Fenland town last Wednesday (January 8).  

Paul Carey, the company’s managing director, has explained the event was to establish a “Community Liaison Committee” and those invited had previously expressed an interest in being involved. 

He claims people have been able to sign up to the initiative since the incinerator proposals were first unveiled in 2020, during two public consultations and through MVV Environment’s website for the project. 

But residents, anti-incinerator campaigners and public figures - including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor Dr Nik Johnson - also went to the meeting when they heard it was being held at The Oasis Community Centre.  

Many feel it should have been more widely publicised because of the importance of the objective, and the future role the committee will play for the community when it is up and running. 

They also argue that five years ago, they were “shocked and horrified” when the proposals were made public and therefore didn’t want to be affiliated with the company. 

Now the scheme for one of Europe’s largest incinerators has been approved, they say updates are needed from MVV Environment about ongoing activities such as the Community Liaison Committee.  

The meeting was held at the Oasis Community Centre on Wednesday (January 8). (Image: WisWIN) Ginny Bucknor, spokesperson for Wisbech Without Incineration (WisWIN), said: “There were a lot of angry people, upset about the lack of communication about the meeting.

“Around 30 were there, and only two put up their hands when asked if they had received an invite.

“It’s outrageous for MVV to think it only needed to let a small number of people know about something so important.” 

She added: “Also, the incinerator’s initial pre-planning consultation took place during the Covid lockdown five years ago.  

“At that time, people were shocked and horrified that such a development was even being considered for Wisbech and they didn’t want anything to do with the company.  

“They wouldn’t have signed up or expressed an interest in being part of the Community Liaison Committee. They didn’t want to be involved in a group that would be seen as supporting it. 

“Now the incinerator has been approved, the community wants and deserves updates, particularly if local groups and organisations can benefit from the multimillions of pounds it will make.”  

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Cllr Garry Monger, who sits on Wisbech Town Council and also attended, added: “[MVV Environment] has previously said it wants to be a good neighbour.  

“But it should’ve publicised Wednesday’s meeting better. It didn’t even inform businesses on the same industrial estate where the incinerator will be built.   

“Hopefully, after this experience, the company will be more communicative with our community going forwards.” 

Ginny Bucknor, spokesperson for WisWIN, holding a "No Wisbech Incinerator" sign outside a consultation event during the Covid pandemic. (Image: Ian Carter) At the meeting, and after much discussion, Mrs Bucknor was nominated interim chair of the committee and another community event will be held on February 5 at The Oasis Community Centre at 6pm.  

She says MVV will handle the publicity, which will include writing to businesses in Algores Way and other key stakeholders. 

It was also agreed MVV will arrange a liaison meeting with other stakeholders including local councils, the Environment Agency and community representatives.  

The company will publish a quarterly residents’ newsletter which will be translated into three European languages. 

Paul Carey, the managing director of MVV Environment. (Image: MS Teams) In an email on Friday, Mr Carey explained MVV had taken the same approach to establish Community Liaison Committees at other incinerator locations, and several people expressed an interest in being involved in Wisbech. 

He added: “It was to these members of the community that we advertised the meeting on Wednesday. 

“However, it would appear that the details of the meeting were circulated to a wider audience by WisWIN, on the assumption that it was a general community meeting, and therefore many more people than MVV had expected attended.” 

The original artists impression of the Wisbech incinerator development. (Image: Newsquest) Works to build the Wisbech incinerator on - officially known as Medworth Energy from Waste Combined Heat and Power Facility - are scheduled to begin at Algores Way Industrial Estate next year.  

It was approved by the previous Conservative government last February despite strong concerns including its location close to schools, pollution levels and the increase in traffic from lorries travelling to and from the plant.  

The environmental permit then issued from the Environment Agency means the facility can process up to 625,600 tonnes of waste per year. 

Campaigners have also pointed out the plant’s two chimneys would be taller than the spire of Ely Cathedral.  

MVV has previously said more than £300m is being invested in the project, which will create 700 jobs during the build and then 40 full-time roles when operational.  

Mayor Dr Johnson said after the meeting: “This is a very complicated, very regrettable situation with the previous government having seemingly locked us into the ill-considered development in a most unwelcome and environmentally harmful waste incinerator.  

“As a nation, we should be well past needing these kinds of facilities. I’ve been opposed to this proposal since it was first mooted and have continued and will continue to raise my concerns with government.” 

Mrs Bucknor added: "The Wisbech incinerator may have been approved, but not a single spade has hit the ground. And we will continue fighting..."