PETITION (Hansard, 14 March 1995)

§ Mr. David Evans (Welwyn Hatfield)

I have much pleasure in presenting the petition, which has 1,250 signatures. The Panshanger Community Action Group of Welwyn Garden City in the County of Hertfordshire Declares that it is deeply concerned that the proposed chemical machining process in the premises of Messrs TKR International Ltd will pose unreasonable and unacceptable risks to the health and safety of the residents of the area and in particular to their children who attend nearby schools. It also Declares that the process, (which will use considerable amounts of nitric and hydrofluoric acids and will release a substantial quantity of chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent directly into the environment) is an entirely unsuitable one for a small factory estate with light industry and storage warehouses together with a major food distribution centre. Furthermore, it should be recognized that the factory has many houses and allotments in very close proximity and that there are three schools within a few hundred metres of the site. The group is also seriously concerned that the transport by road of concentrated acids and solvents and their storage and security on site, together with the removal of toxic and hazardous waste by road tanker will present an unreasonable and continuing health hazard to the residents and children of the area. The Petitioners therefore respectfully ask the House of Commons to request Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution to refuse a licence for the process as proposed, to be carried out in Welwyn Garden City to the detriment of Her Majesty's loyal subjects. The Committee of The Panshanger Action Group acting on behalf of the residents of the area respectfully present this petition and remain, Yours faithfully M Brunning J Brunning F Grover E A Grover.