North Somerset Liberal Democrats have welcomed the news that an incinerator is off the menu as the “solution” to the District’s waste disposal - following the change of leadership in Bristol City Council.

The Lib Dems took minority control of the City Council on February 24 when the ruling Labour group walked out following a row with the Tories, who had been propping them up for two years.

The Labour group claimed that they had to go after their Tory bed-fellows changed their minds and decided to oppose the Avonmouth incinerator – despite the fact that Tory-led administrations in North Somerset and South Glos are wedded to it as their long-term solution to disposing of waste.

North Somerset Lib Dem group leader, Cllr Deborah Yamanaka, said: “Liberal Democrats across the four ex-Avon authorities have always been against the incinerator. We prefer a more flexible approach with increased recycling and smaller plants spread out over the area which does not harm the environment as incineration does.

"The Tories promote themselves as sound financial managers - but the Tories in Bristol have shown that up as rubbish. By first supporting the PFI incinerator bid and now flip-flopping to oppose it, they display a staggering degree of incompetence.

“It is no surprise in Bristol’s election year to find Tories changing their minds to follow public opinion – you only have to look at Portishead where a Tory executive member installed the current Cabstand traffic system. Yet his party ran its 2007 election campaign in the town based on the claim the system was not the best solution and only they could fix it – two years on nothing has changed.”

For further details contact Deborah Yamanaka on 01934 862109

Notes to editors
The cabstand traffic system was installed while Tory Peter Burden was the responsible executive member

published by: North Somerset Liberal Democrats, 12 Henley Lodge, Yatton, Bristol, BS49 4JQ

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