Council nets St Dennis hedgerow ahead of incinerator decision

Cornwall Council is wrapping a hedegrow in St Dennis in anti-bird netting, in anticipation of getting planning permission for a £110 million waste incinerator. The council believes any delay to the start of construction could cost £1 million a month. But anti-incinerator campaigners say the move threatens wildlife. A decision on whether or not the incinerator (Cornwall Energy Recovery Centre) has planning permission is expected in the next few weeks.

The council's just emailed me this:

"The cost of purchasing and erecting the netting is approximately £10,000. The cost of delays to the opening of the CERC are approximately £1,000,000 per month. If the decision is given early say in April and the Cabinet accept the Revised Project Plan, say in June, then the netting could potentially save £2,000,000. The Council had two options to try and mitigate costs due to delays associated with nesting: a) cut down all mature trees and flail the hedges or b) net the trees and hedges. If planning permission was not obtained and trees had been cut down there would be ongoing detriment to the environment in the form of the loss of mature trees, however if nets were used they can simply be removed with no lasting detriment to the environment. St Dennis, St Enoder, and St Stephen Parish Councils and the local Councillor were informed of the works and the reason for the netting. In addition the St Dennis News was also informed. The netting will be taken down if planning permission is not given or when construction on the scheme begins. The netting is being inspected every day by Cornwall Environmental consultants to check no birds or animals trapped and it is secure and not fastened in an unsafe manner."