The jury trial of three Greenpeace volunteers who scaled the 75-metre chimney of Sheffield rubbish incinerator and shut down its operations for three days began on Tuesday 26th November at Sheffield Crown Court.
The volunteers took part in a Greenpeace action on the 22nd May 2001 to close the Bernard Road plant, after it was identified as the worst incinerator in England. It had exceeded its legal pollution limits 156 times in just two years and discharged tonnes of toxic chemicals on to the people of Sheffield.
An analysis of votes cast in the local elections in Sheffield on May 2nd reveals that opposition to a new incinerator in the city may have swung two key wards from the Liberal Democrats to Labour. The swing resulted in the Liberal Democrats losing control of the city - a stark contrast to the situation in Hull where the Liberal Democrats were opposed to incineration and enjoyed massive electoral success. The poll analysis was conducted by Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace and is attached.
Commenting on the poll analysis, Mark Strutt, head of the incineration campaign at Greenpeace, said:
"It's very clear that the new incinerator at Bernard Rd was a significant factor in the Sheffield result. If the Sheffield Liberal Democrats had followed the line from their national office and opposed incineration they would still be in control of the city."
11 Greenpeace volunteers ended their occupation of Sheffield incinerator after protecting the people of the city from polluting gases for 3 days
Offer to pay for Sheffield waste plan rebuffed by Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats were dragged into a national row over incineration today because of Sheffield City Council's determination to build a new waste burner. The national Lib Dems have been branded as hypocrites and electoral opportunists by both Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace after the party tried to face in both directions on the controversial issue of burning rubbish. The national Lib Dems claim to be in favour of a moratorium on the building of new incinerators but in fact the Lib Dem controlled Sheffield City Council is trying to construct a massive waste burner against fierce local opposition.
Summary This report presents objections on behalf of Greenpeace UK following an initial review of an application for a 225,000 tpa 'Energy Recovery Facility' (a 'mass burn' incinerator) made by Terence O'Rourke PLC as agents for Sheffield Environmental Services Ltd a subsidiary company of Onyx.
Three Greenpeace volunteers today (6/12/01) pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal damage in connection with the occupation of Sheffield waste incinerator in May. Their case was directed to Crown Court for trial.
Greenpeace today welcomed the news that waste company Onyx UK has agreed to close down Sheffield's Bernard Road incinerator. Greenpeace volunteers occupied the plant for three days in May after a new report identified it as the worst in Britain. Onyx is due to take over the running of waste management services from Sheffield City Council.
