APPENDICES TO THE MINUTES OF EVIDENCE
TAKEN BEFORE THE ENVIRONMENT SUB-COMMITTEE
OF THE ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Supplementary Memorandum by The Air That
We Breathe Group (EA 07(a))
I was present today at Committee Room 15, where
I listened to the witnesses talking about the workings of the
Environment Agency. Friends of the Earth seemed to indicate that
everything to do with the cement industry is acceptable, with
the exception of Ribblesdale. This assessment needs correction.
Communities such as our own, here in Westbury
are very concerned. I have been invitied to speak in Dunbar, East
Lothian and Paveswood, Flintshire, at public meetings where disquiet
with the EA was prevalent.
I would refer you to our submission to indicate
the complexity of this matter. It has taken three years to reach
trial status. Friends of the Earth have decided to remove their
cement watch and therefore their expertise in this matter. That
was obvious today.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Members of the public with sound science
grounding to be included as lay inspectors with EA inspectors
during trials.
2. For those lay inspectors to have powers
of visitation.
3. For those lay inspectors to be used by
the EA to filter public calls, thereby relieving part of the tedious
workload that erodes their time.
4. For lay inspectors to be incorporated
nationally and their role to be developed.
OBSERVATION
With five layers of management buttressing the
site inspector, they can only reflect the work carried out by
him/her.
PLAYING DEVIL'S
ADVOCATE
The management structure could be reinforcing
a corrupt situation up to Chairman level. SFTAP should be the
safeguard, but it is totally reliant on site inspector input,
not the original data.
David Levy
November 1999
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