Health expert to speak against incinerator plans (Contributed)

WORLD-renowned health and pollution researcher, Dr Dick Van Steenis, will next week publicly denounce Oxfordshire County Council?s waste incineration plans as potentially lethal and illegal.
Dr Van Steenis, a former advisor to the House of Lords Select Committee on pollution, will present data and journal-driven evidence, demonstrating the link between incinerators and adverse health outcomes among downwind populations, which include abnormally high instances of infant mortality, cancer, suicide and numerous other conditions.

The speech will be made at a public meeting, organised by Ardley Against Incinerator, a group of concerned residents from Bicester and over fifteen surrounding parishes. The meeting will be held at 7.30pm in the lecture theatre at Cooper School (Churchill Road) in Bicester on Wednesday 10th September 2008, and is open to anyone.

The public meeting has been organised following Oxfordshire County Council?s controversial decision to commission a municipal waste incinerator at either Sutton Courtenay or Ardley. If Ardley is chosen, Dr Van Steenis says that people as far away as Brackley, Buckingham and Banbury will be affected. Representatives from Oxfordshire County Council and Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust will be invited to attend the meeting, where they will have an opportunity to challenge Dr Van Steenis and explain why they have selected incineration over other technologies. Ardley Against Incinerator says it will also invite local healthcare professionals, teachers and representatives from the business and farming communities to attend the meeting. Over 250 people are expected to hear Dr Van Steenis speak.

Jonathan O?Neill, Chairman of Ardley Against Incinerator said: ?Oxfordshire County Council does not appear to have done its due diligence on incineration technology. If they had, they would know that it is an expensive, outdated and above all dangerous solution to the county?s waste challenges. We are delighted to have someone of Dr Van Steenis?s stature to combat the council?s spin with hard data and scientific fact.?

Ardley Against Incinerator is a voluntary group supported by local residents and parish councils. For further information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Jonathan O?Neill on 07734 272094 or at info@ardleyagainstincinerator.co.uk
Patrick Woodrow on 07974 916 930 or at patrick@patrickwoodrow.com