|
Thank you for your letter,
I'm sure you will agree that most of the topics you have raised are
complicated and deserve a detailed response. However, all I am able
to do at the moment is to make brief comments.
Dungeness Do you support new build at
Dungeness power station even though the industry has not solved its
waste problems?
Liberal Democrat policy is not to support new build at Dungeness Power
Station.
I personally find the question Dungeness difficult and certainly I have
reservations with regard to nuclear power. However, I have come to the
view and that it is probably better for the UK to develop a limited
number of Nuclear Power Stations rather then use up fossil fuels which
are themselves detrimental to the environment I understand that the
UK is due to use all its resources of natural gas by 20l5. I appreciate
that there is a major concern with regard to the disposal of nuclear
waste. But largely due to the campaigns and pressure of Friends of the
Earth it seems to me that safety considerations are being taken seriously.
Renewable Energy Do you welcome wind farms in the district? Should
the government be urged to do more to develop all forms of renewable
energy - eg subsidising national grid connections?
Yes. However, we recognise that they should be located as sensitively
as possible, away from areas of high density population and away from
sites of special scientific interest or areas of outstanding natural
beauty. Our preferred option would be wind farms located offshore I
have reservations with regard to wind farms on Romney Marsh. Romney
Marsh is a unique and special geographical area and in my view wind
farms would be detrimental to the environment
GM Foods Are you aware that over the next year
or so the Government will decide whether to allow GM crops to be commercially
grown across the UK? Do you have any concerns?
Yes I am aware. I have serious concerns on this issue. We believe the
problems of cross contamination from GM to non-GM crops have been underestimated.
There is substantial evidence accrued from recent trials of cross-pollination
over considerable distances. Therefore even field trials of GM crops
pose serious hazards to the environment. However, I did read an article
from a representative of Christian Aid, which suggested that GM crops
might be able to provide food in areas of the world where conventional
crops will not grow in sufficient quality and quantity I stand by Liberal
Democrat national policy that isolation distances between GM and non-GM
crops should be increased and that there should be a five-year moratorium
on commercial exploitation of this technology
Emergency Plan
The government has made local authorities near nuclear power stations
responsible for drawing up plans to protect the public in a nuclear
emergency. Do you know what Shepway's local emergency plan is, and do
you think that potassium iodate tablets should be available to everyone
in the district?
I am aware that Shepway has a local plan to cover this contingency.
We are assured that the plan is periodically exercised. I am also aware
that the District Council in cooperation with the Environment Agency
has produced an emergency plan with regard to evacuation in the case
serious flooding. In fact I have been pressing development of such plan
for a number of years.
We do not think that potassium iodate tablets should be issued to everyone
in the district. We do not agree with this proposal due to the fact
that many people may lose the tablets. We propose that the Shepway emergency
plan be enhanced to provide better-controlled distribution of the potassium
iodate tablets in the event of an emergency.
Cycling Do you support safe
sensible cycling routes to schools and town centres? Would you make
this a budget priority?
I strongly support the formation of safe cycle routes particularly safe
routes to school. For the last 25 years or so of my working life I averaged
100 miles a week on my bicycle and would encourage more and more people
to leave their cars at home and get on their bikes which would be good
exercise for the individuals and a good and effective means of reducing
pollution.
Operation Stack Do you have
any after-native solutions to the underlying problems caused by HGVs
on our motorways?
1 have no magic solution to this problem but would support any efforts
to overcome it. Operation Stack is certainly detrimental to the quality
of life of the people of Shepway Liberal Democrat alternative to Operation
stack is that the EU should have the legal power to designate certain
trunk routes between nations as special routes, where it would be illegal
to blockade routes. For example, it should be illegal for French farmers
to blockade Calais and induce Operation Stack on the M20. This measure
would reduce the instance of Operation to that commensurate with instances
of stormy weather, which causes queues at the Channel Tunnel. We would
oppose any solution to operation Stack that involved the construction
of a large-scale temporary lorry park. However, we would still support
the development of the service area that was originally planned but
not built near Stanford on the M20. Any large-scale lorry park built
specifically for operation Stack would be environmentally disastrous.
It would destroy valuable green space, and by definition would lie empty
for much of its life. As regards the general problem of increased HGVs
on our motorways, we would support the development of lorry carrying
train services within the UK. By this means the environmental damage
of lorries undertaking long distance journeys would be reduced. Further,
we would support the subsidy of general rail freight.
Recycling Is
Shepway doing enough?
Certainly Shepway is not doing enough. It would be one of the Liberal
Democrats priorities to address the whole question improving recycling
We would seek to develop a comprehensive and easy to use kerb side recycling
scheme across Shepway.
I am always pleased to listen to the view of Friends of the Earth I
have the highest respect for your objectives even is. I am unable to
support them all
Yours sincerely
Terry Preston.
|
