Refuse disposal

Press, 30 October 1981, Page 12

Refuse disposal

Sin—Pleased as I am that the Metropolitan Refuse Disposal Committee has shelved its latest plans to site a transfer station next to houses and factories in Redwood, it angers me to hear the chairman lament that “public opinion was against us.” Surely democracy demands that the will of the people be paramount. Politicians, local and national, are elected to serve not to dictate what we ought to want. Mr Clark is also wrong in saying that people will accept the plan so long as it is on someone else’s doorstep. The Action Committee which worked on behalf of residents has always been concerned by. the scheme in principle. Far from simply demanding that the scheme be sited elsewhere, a viable alternative, ably researched by Dr Graeme Britten, was put forward. It proposed compactor trucks, a view apparently endorsed by W.C.C. during the recent rubbish collectors strike when they awarded the contract to a firm using compactor trucks which take over so much of the work of a transfer station.— Yours, etc., . HELEN COOK. October 28, 1981.

Sir,—Sincere thanks to the hearing committee, Cr A. A. Adcock, and those who opposed the rubbish dump planned for the Waimairi Beach area. Long may Cr Adcock remain a member of the Metropolitan Refuse Disposal Committee to ensure that our community and environment are respected in future for all to enjoy. Our rubbish disposal problem has yet to be settled.—Yours, etc., EVE BULLION. October 28, 1981.