THE new incinerator will improve air quality and generate ten per cent of the Island’s electricity, says Transport Mi-nister Guy de Faye.
He said that any further delay to the £80m project would cost money and leave Jersey reliant on a failing plant.
Speaking after St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft pledged to make a last stand against ‘incinerator lunacy’, and after holding a meeting with Havre des Pas residents to talk about the plans, Deputy de Faye said that the plant was an essential investment.
‘This new energy-from-waste facility is needed now more urgently than ever, not only because it will dramatically improve air quality in the Island and generate ten per cent of our electricity, but also because the current Bellozanne incinerator, which has served the Island for almost 30 years, is on its last legs,’ he said. ‘Delaying further, which the Environment Scrutiny panel want us to do, will significantly increase the cost the Island has to pay to manage its waste properly in future.’
The Transport department set up the La Collette Community Liaison Group to talk to residents about the plans. On Wednesday the group held its first meeting with Deputy de Faye, Transport chief officer John Richardson and waste strategy director Will Gardiner.
The department told residents that the landscaping to shield the project would be done early, and that their ideas would be taken into account.
Deputy de Faye said: ‘I am grateful that these local people gave up their time to provide invaluable feedback to the project team on their concerns. While none of them welcomed the new plant, they have understood that it is needed and is becoming a reality.’
