ICARE !
WE Care !
Do You Care ? 
Stuart Stevenson and the Zero Waste Policy
We are pleased that Stuart Stevenson has confirmed today that he stands by the Zero waste policy of 2011  which states: “The feedstock simply won't be available to feed  large-scale plants or an extensive network of incinerators across  Scotland.”
The Zero waste policy has made extensive inroads into bring Scotland in to Zero waste and this has helped in our campaign since 2011 and has given iCARE, Ross-Estate and the Highland council a very strong case in the forth coming PLI.
However small EfW plants are in the Zero Waste Plan as they are still deemed to be a requirement in Scotland to deal with the residual waste stream once all viable recyclate has been removed. 


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HC news
The Highland councillors have agreed to the updated objections and also agreed to drop the Air and Health that matters to us a community. Please see below an accurate report on the webcast today 17th April at 10.30am.
Below is a summary of the webcast and what was said and my response to it, this  is an important area for the community and they have been badly let
down.
As we were made aware that the councillors were looking to drop the health issues myself and others last night emailed all our local councillors about it (we are still waiting for replies from all the councillors that were contacted), that they had a duty to uphold the original objection and the reasons why, as well as update in other area's.
We also told them that if they did drop the health aspects and submitted a revised submission document to the Reporter saying they were happy for health to be  dealt with by SEPA then it was more than likely that the Reporter would come back to us saying no further action required on health and air. 
 Only the councillors that originally took part were allowed to participate and they were as follows,, Donnie Mackay, Coghill, Smith, Rattray,
Finlayson, Smith Maxine, chisholm and Durham .
 The HC had Jim Miller who discussed the councils reasons for updating and renewing the original objection and explained about Dr Searl, then Kevin Martin who is the transport expert discussed the reasons for the Tomich Junction being kept and further  details added to that objection these are that the Tomich Junction is exteremy unsafe, no right turn manoeuvre can be executed safely especially not lorries, these are facts.
 After their summaries were given the members were allowed to speak, first up was Councillor Farlow, who agrees with the findings and that the recommendations should be granted, accept that in the original hearing SEPA had stated that this was purely an incinerator, so why was it being
called an EfW.
 Michael Fnlayson was up next and he asked why there is no balanced views with regards health particularly with regard air and weather as has been pointed we have alot of cloudy weather an this means that the emissions will not be blown to the four corners of the earth but actually be kept down in the local area. and he dos not want to see the health issue dropped.
Councillor Durham thanked everyone for competent reports he doesn't however agree with Michael Finlayson and he thinks the there is more
pollution coming out of the back of our cars than there is from an Incinerator.
He thinks the revised report recommendations should be agreed as is.
Councillor Rattray says it is important to Invergordon and that it is a mistake not to include health and that this should be looked at in
depth.
Councillor Maxine Smith, said she would like to thank them for their excellent report and that whilst she acknowledges their concerns and those of
the constituents, she agrees with the report in its entirety and doesn't believe that health should be included as there is alot of research out there, some is
for and some is against when it comes to health but they are equal therefore we can not win on it. She will support the revised recommendations and if a counter measure is brought with regards including health she will not support it.
Michael Finlayson then asked for a five minute adjournment so it could be discussed, when they were back, both Michael Finlayson and Martin Rattray stated that they believed there were very good reasons but were unhappy that health was not going to be included and that they would ask the HC to make sure SEPA consulted with the HC over health issues etc.
The HC revised objections including dropping health were recommend by our councillors and these updated objections will be submitted to
the Reporter.
iCARE and myself on behalf of the community we represent are pleased to see that the objections have been upgraded in areas such as the Tomich Junction, HWDP, economic impact and tourism and P70 
However we are extremely disappointed that our councillors did not support the views of the electorate and more strongly defend their positions with regards
health.
Contrary to what Councillor Maxine Smith states there is plenty of evidence that refutes her claim that there is plenty of evidence for
and against, including the fact that the UK Government has released funding for a study to investigate the health of locals within the area of incinerators as
it can not beyond reasonable doubt that it harms health, hence their agreement to pay out possibly millions of pounds worth of tax payers money to investigate
the facts that cancers, asthma, still born and other health issues are greater in these areas were incinerators exist.
We are disappointed to note that Councillor Maxine Smith feels the views, fears and concerns do not merit a full public Inquiry and that Michael Finlayson and Martin Rattray were over ruled with regards it being kept in.
The councillors agreed to go with the recommendations and also to drop air and health, this means that whilst the areas they have updated are extremely strong, the Reporter is now unlikely to give the community or iCARE a Public Local Inquiry into Air and Health and that no further action will be taken, if this happens it means peoples concerns and the facts and figures etc will not be be given due consideration and in effect we yet again will not be given our democratic right to be heard.
As Director and current Chair for iCARE and as the elected representative for the community and local community councils we can assure you that we will do our utmost to continue to make sure that the impact the Councillors decision has is minimised with the Reporter and that we do get the Health and Air in a PLI so we are able to present our findings, facts and figures and protect the communities interests not just for this generation but for those generations to come.
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We have received SPEA's response with regards the Reporter asking for further information about the issues raised by Ross Estate on health and air.
In brief they are happy with all the appellants statements etc within his ES and they will not be attending the PLI has they do not see the need.
(Please click the link for documents and their response can be foound there) 
We got the PLI
The people in and around Invergordon should feel very pleased and proud of themselves for yesterday evening, I am proud to live  in amongst a community that when it matters they can be counted on!
We had a fantastic turn out for the PEM, a full Academy hall apart from about 10 chairs and the Reporter was yet again reminded how strongly the community feels about NOT having this incinerator in their community.

The Reporter confirmed that three points would be in a PLI these are as follows
The current proposed development Policy and legislative context Traffic 
We are also to have a hearing with regards conditions if the development was to get the go ahead.
As you will all be aware he had said he was looking to take no further action with regards air an health.
 At last nghts PEM I set out my reasons for it being included in a PLI and he has agreed to consider whether air and health are to be addressed by way of a PLI, so we still stand chance of getting it in.
As for Economic impact we want this by way of a PLI and not a hearing and he is
going to consider as well.
Contrary to what some might say, we are more than happy to speak and feel that a PLI is the best way as we can also ask questions which we can not at a hearing.
The PLI is going to start from the 6th June for 8 to possibly 10 ten days and if he agrees with us and the air, health and Economic impact should be by way of an PLI then that will more than likely be during the months of July and August.

We as a community are now in a very strong position with the campaign and all of the evidence we have especially with regards Traffic and the Tomich Junction.
Thank you too each and every person that turned up last night

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Friday 23rd March - The private reception with Mr Al Fayed went really well and we had alot of interviews with the media including BBC, MFR, THE SCOTSMAN, The P&J, Breaking News North (for STV) and more.
We then had the public meeting in the evening at the Academy which went very well, Mr Al Fayed spok to the community about why he was supporting us and then he signed our Sustainable Communities Manifesto and then we asked our local councillors Martin Rattray, Michael Finlayson and Maxine Smith to sign, sadly Councillor Maxine Smith walked out of the meeting saying " it wasnt her seen", but our other councillors Martin and Michael did sign and then the audience were asked if they would like to sign, which everyone did.
Thank you to everyone for a very successful campaign to date and here is too being successful in the future.
Tina McCaffery
Director/Chair


Friday 23rd March iCARE public meeting @Invergordon Academy 7pm
Intended Guest speaker Mr Al Fayed, who intends to talk with the community about the campaign and his support for the community and their community company iCARE.
We look forward too seeing you all on the night.
Tina McCaffery
Director/Chair

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The Reporter has emailed to say that he is provisionally looking at the PLI being held at the beginning of June. The dates at the moment are during the weeks commencing the 4th and 11th of June.
As you can see certainly not before the local council elections !!!
The Reporter has sent out the Agenda for the PEM and by now everyone should have it received it.
If you havent please click the PEM link above and then the file link at the bottom of the page.
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The Reporter has this afternoon (29/02/12) confirmed that he will holding the PEM on the 27th March at 7pm, with venue to be confirmed
shortly.
We will as usual keep you updated as we hear.
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iCARE's submission to the updated ES (or lack of it) has been put on the E.S tab above
You will also find links to the media talks that we did today as well
The Reporter has informed parties to the appeal that he intends to hold a further PEM ON The 27th March 2012
This will enable all members of the community to show the Reporter Mr Dent the strength of opposition to this incinerator in our town and that we WANT a PLI in order to have our democratic say on our future and our childrens future !

ICARE is a community company, formed by you the community of Invergordon to make InverG green again.

We aim to ensure that your voices, the people of the Invergordon and surrounding area are heard we say 
NO to incineration YES to
Prevention - Reduction - Reusing - Re-education - Recycling !

At the moment ICARE and the community in and around Invergordon are campaigning for a PLI
Whether you agree with Incineration or are Against it,  A PLI allows both sides to be heard in the public domain!
Have your Say, Be Heard, write to the Reporter

Definition of Democracy -   Quote -  As John Adams (1735-1826) said in his 1774 proclamation address: "As the happiness of the people is the sole end of democracy, so the consent of the people is the only foundation of it."    A form of government in which the people freely govern themselves, where the executive (or administrative) and law making (or legislative) power is given to persons chosen by the population the free people

We will campaign fervently against the proposed Invergordon Incinerator. But, we will not stop there ! 
ICARE wants to make Invergordon the greenest town in Scotland. We are working on a Centre of Excellence for recycling and the environment.
With plans to introduce a Community Recycling Resource, a Composting Facility, a Youth Project and more eco initiatives, we are striving to make Invergordon green again!

This is your Community company, you own it and its your voice that counts, we hope you will feel free to get involved in any way you wish.