§ Mr. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment
Borough and latest UDP stage Sites identified for possible major waste schemes Royal Borough Kingston upon Thames (Adopted March 1998) Improvement of refuse transfer facilities at the Athelstan Road Depot. Merton UDP (Deposit draft September 1999) 23P Garth Road Depot Waste Treatment Facility (including buffer zone and environmental improvements). Hammersmith and Fulham (Revised deposit June 2000) Site 47 Imperial Road. Depot for waste recycling. Croydon UDP (Adopted January 1997) EP4 The development of large scale waste management facilities will only be appropriate in Purley Way North and South Industrial Areas. Bexley UDP (Adopted July 1996) Policy WS1 identities four special industrial zones which could accommodate Waste facilities but not exclusively. One has subsequently been developed for the sludge incineration and the second one is subject to a current application with DTI.
§ Mr. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the case for imposing maximum(a) size and (b) capacity limits on particular types of waste management facilities; and if he will make a statement. [134064]
§ Mr. MeacherThe size and capacity of waste management facilities must be considered on a site by site basis, taking account of the location, quantity and nature of material to be dealt with, transport issues and other considerations. Government do not therefore consider it appropriate to impose constraints on the size or capacity of facilities. However, "Waste Strategy 2000" states that energy from waste plant should be appropriately-sized so as not to crowd out recycling.
§ Mr. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers planning authorities have to impose a moratorium on specific waste management options. [134058]
§ Mr. MeacherLocal planning authorities do not have powers to impose a moratorium on specific types of waste management facility. All planning applications for
52Whe has made of the need for new or extended waste management facilities to enable waste disposal authorities in London to meet the target for diverting waste from landfill by 2005. [134061]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Government have made no assessment of the likely need for new or extended waste facilities in London. Any requirements for new or extended waste facilities in London are a matter for London boroughs as the relevant waste planning authorities. Any proposals for facilities to handle municipal waste must be consistent with the Mayor's municipal waste management strategy. Prior to publication of that strategy, proposals must be consistent with the national waste strategy, "Waste Strategy 2000".
§ Mr. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list sites identified in the Unitary Development Plans of London boroughs for possible major waste management schemes. [134066]
§ Mr. MeacherThree Unitary Development Plans, those for Hammersmith and Fulham, Kingston and Merton, have site specific proposals for waste schemes, although only one (Hammersmith and Fulham) is for a new facility. Two other UDP's, Bexley and Croydon, have policies indicating their preferred locations for such facilities. Details are as follows:
development should be decided by the local planning authority in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. In preparing their development plans, local planning authorities must have regard to Government policy and planning guidance, including that contained in "Waste Strategy 2000" and PPG10 "Planning and Waste Management".
§ Mr. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the waste disposal authorities in London that plan to let contracts for the transportation, treatment and disposal of their waste in the next two years. [134063]
§ Mr. MeacherWaste disposal authorities are not required to notify my Department of the contracts they propose to let. However, the Greater London Authority Act 1999 requires waste authorities in London to provide the Mayor with certain information about existing and new waste contracts. I will ask the Mayor to write to the right hon. Member with the information they have to date.
53W
§ Mr. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he will ensure that the Mayor of London's municipal waste strategy conforms with the principles and objectives of the "Waste Strategy 2000". [134057]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Greater London Authority Act 1999 requires that in preparing the municipal waste management strategy, the Mayor shall have regard to the national waste strategy, which is currently "Waste Strategy 2000", published in May 2000.
§ Mr. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he will issue to waste disposal authorities in London that will tender for their waste contracts in the next 12 months in respect of(a) promoting the use of rail and water transport and (b) attainment of the landfill diversion targets of the EU Landfill Directive and the national waste strategy; and if he will publish such guidance. [134062]
§ Mr. MeacherPublished guidance on promoting the use of rail and water transport for waste is available in the Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9), the Strategic Guidance for London Planning Authorities (RPG3) and the Strategic Guidance for the River Thames (RPG3B/9B).
The Government have published guidance for local authorities on delivering best value for waste ("Waste Strategy Guidance Best Value and Waste Management" June 2000). We will shortly be publishing guidance to local authorities on developing Municipal Waste Management Strategies. We have no plans to issue further guidance on meeting landfill diversion targets or the national waste strategy.
§ Mr. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what co-operation he plans for work with the Mayor of London to safeguard and enhance use of the River Thames for the transportation of waste. [134065]
§ Mr. MeacherMinisters and officials have frequent contact with the Mayor of London and his staff on a wide range of issues, including waste. However, the Greater London Authority Act 1999 requires the Mayor to produce a municipal waste management strategy for London. This shall have regard to the national waste strategy and be consistent with the Mayor's other strategies, which include spatial development and transport strategies. It should also have regard to the desirability of promoting and encouraging the use of the River Thames safely, in particular for the provision of passenger transport services and for the transportation of freight.
In preparing the Spatial Development Strategy the Mayor has to have regard to regional planning guidance issued by the Secretary of State. The draft Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9) states a clear preference for the integration of sites of waste treatment and disposal with rail and water based transport systems wherever possible.
The Strategic Guidance for London Planning Authorities (RPG3) makes provision for boroughs to identify and safeguard suitable water or riverside sites for waste recycling, treatment and transfer facilities. This guidance remains extant until the final version of the 54W Spatial Development Strategy is published. The Mayor should have regard to RPG in exercising his planning functions until that strategy has been published.
The Strategic Guidance for the River Thames (RPG3B/9B) requires local authorities to adopt policies in their development plans to encourage the use of the river for the transport of freight, including waste.
§ Mr. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects waste planning authorities to consider the need to provide for all forms of waste management, in line with the integrated approach required by "Waste Strategy 2000". [134060]
§ Mr. MeacherWaste planning authorities should consider the need to make provision for all forms of waste management facilities when preparing or revising their waste development plans. The plans should take account of "Waste Strategy 2000", other relevant Government advice including national planning guidance in PPG 10 "Planning and Waste Management" and the appropriate regional planning guidance.
§ Mr. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when "Waste Strategy 2000" became a material consideration for land-use planning purposes. [134059]
§ Mr. Meacher"Waste Strategy 2000" became a material consideration for land-use planning purposes on its publication on 25 May 2000. Before that the draft waste strategy, "A Way with Waste" and the consultation paper "Less Waste More Value" published in July 1999 and June 1998, respectively were the relevant documents.