Support growing against incinerator in Washington

photo Stephen Craven / SELCHP incinerator / power plant, Rotherhithe / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Click to enlarge)

Elaine Brunskill, Northern Socialist Party secretary

A recent House of Commons report, 'Improving Air Quality', points out that: "Air pollution cuts short an estimated 40,000 lives across the country each year.

"Children, the elderly, and those with existing medical conditions are at greatest risk."

Yet in Washington, Tyne and Wear, the energy company Rolton Kilbride wants to build a gasification plant, which local campaigners point out is a "posh term for incinerator".

If their plans get the go-ahead from Sunderland's Labour-controlled council, the plant will be within 1,200 metres of three primary schools.

The nearest homes are within 300 metres. There's also a risk to wildlife at the nearby Washington Wildfowl Park.

Campaigners from the surrounding villages of Sulgrave, Barmston and Concord are worried about the health risks posed if this project goes ahead.

Alongside health risks, the campaign has cited the increase in traffic on already congested roads, and the noise and odours from the plant. Already 9,000 have signed a petition opposing the plans.

One resident from Barmston said: "I can't understand how a Labour council can even consider allowing a company to build this type of plant only hundreds of metres from people's homes!"

Another, from Concord, angrily retorted: "If the council aren't backing us - it means they've declared war on the people of Washington".

The campaigners have set up a Facebook page "WAGG - Washington & Wearside Against Gasification (Incinerator) Group".

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.