The RoF Update

Have you heard ...

toxic waste I can't get over Renfrewshire Council standing up at a public meeting and declaring that the RoF isn't on the top of their contaminated lands list (still waiting for the list to be sent). He was actually condescending in his 'put down' - when pressed he then told us that if we took all the parts of the factory together it would be at the top. This is the dangerous "spin" that I fear, those who are in charge belittle those living in communities surrounding this toxic time bomb with a crass response to the danger to those very communities feel.

Now we get the next part of dangerous and misleading “spin” from Renfrewshire Council! Taken from the Paisley Daily Express:

“Included in the final plans agreed with the developers are £30 million worth of community investment, including the construction of a new school for primary and pre-school age groups, improvements in park and ride facilities plus more than £700,000 on local bus services, a new community centre and health centre, plus the long-term maintenance and management of a community woodland park.”

£30 million worth of community investment agreed with the developers – wow (must be said with a high degree of sarcasm)! THERE ARE NO DEVELOPERS, THEY PULLED OUT! Who the hell are they talking too? £30 million in development? We can’t even get roads repaired!!!

The real danger is that they tell us this fantasy as if they believe it! Could they be deluding themselves? After this stupidity can we ever believe what they say?

This is evidence that democracy has died in our society, now we have death by committee… in dictatorships you at least have someone to hate!

Stuart Duffy

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From Bishopton Action Group

Renfrewshire Council and BAE Systems have concluded their section 75 agreement and outline planning consent has been issued for the ROF site. The section 75 agreement details the developer’s contribution to community facilities such as school, health centre etc. This agreement is being described in the press as a “massive boost” for Bishopton. We disagree for the following reasons:

1. There is NO developer, therefore this section agreement was drawn up with the landowner, BAE Systems. Redrow pulled out of the development several months ago. Until a DEVELOPER comes along and agrees to make an investment then this section 75 agreement is no better than a wish list.

2. Section 75 agreements are not set in stone. Developers can and do renegotiate the terms of section 75 agreements. Developers up and down the UK are currently trying to renegotiate their section 75 agreements because of the current housing slump and economic climate. If a developer comes along in the future, probably the first thing that they will try to do is renegotiate the section 75 agreement. Therefore there is absolutely no guarantee that all the items in the section 75 agreement will be implemented.

3. We do not consider that the section 75 agreement is a very good deal for Bishopton particularly in relation to health and education.

The Gazette has an article about the ROF development and the public have the opportunity to make their comments online. The address is http://www.the-gazette.co.uk/news/villages/articles/2009/09/24/392180-action-group-hit-out-at-pound30m-package-for-village/

There is a danger that this “promise” of “investment” will be used to hide the real issues about the dangers associated with airborne contamination resulting from the disturbance of contaminated soil and the burning of hundreds of contaminated buildings. Many of you will have read about the recent court case where some parents in Corby believe that the birth defects suffered by their children were a result of airborne contamination. The parents have won their case and the local council has been found negligent. We urge you to make your voice heard and add your comments to the online article. It is important that the main health issues are not forgotten.

BAG attended the Community Liaison Group meeting where the section 75 agreement was revealed. We have put our notes up on the BAG website. You can read our notes of the agreement here.

There are currently two applications before Renfrewshire Council: an application for a landfill for deposit of hazardous/non-hazardous waste and an application for engineering operations comprising remediation and reclamation earthworks. BAG has already submitted its objection to the landfill application and we are currently working our way through the 150 documents which make up the remediation application and will be formulating our objection in the near future.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email. We hope that you will be able to add comments to the Gazette article. We know that the Gazette will be publishing some of the website comments in next week’s paper so it is important that Bishopton people respond to the article.