The Kirkby Area Community network is a little known group and without looking into the aims and objectives and constitution etc, it would be difficult to know whether or not this was just another well meaning yet powerless talking shop. At a meeting on Oct 1st at Kirkby Suite - the 'network' sat down to discuss a number of issues one of which was Sonae. George Howarth was in attendance at this meeting and judging from the minutes which are published below - he is once again defending Sonae - only this time he goes too far.

First we have the unedited section of the minutes which refers to Sonae, then there is a response to a few points raised. Thanks to the person who passed this information to Kirkby times. Please make sure ANY Sonae material gets passed along to Kirkby Times. Remember the new address for the Kirkby Times Sonae Section - www.stopsonae.co.uk

Members Issues - Sonae Factory, Pauline Barrows

Pauline Burrows, Chair Community Health Forum explained how she is concerned about people's health in the area due to the smoke/fumes and odour coming out of the Sonae factory chimney. It was pointed out that Sonae are looking into extending the chimney and Pauline felt this would not solve the problem. It was noted that Kirkby has a higher rate of cancer (especially in the Northwood area) although this is thought not to be connected.

George Howarth MP explained this could be linked to people's lifestyles (smoking, drinking and eating). Pauline felt it could also be the general environment in which we live. Discussion followed as one member explained how he was concerned for the children in the area going to school as there seemed to be a lot more coughing and eye watering. Complaints have been made to the factory but Sonae have always been within the recommended emission criteria. Pauline felt that she would like the situation monitored regularly. It was noted however that local farmers have been monitoring the factory.

It was noted that Dr Diana Forest of Knowsley Primary Care Trust had looked at whether there was sufficient evidence to declare the site, as were enough reports to justify if there was a health risk. George Howarth MY explained that high toxins had been handled on the Industrial Estate dating back to the war. Knowsley's Environmental Health Department had said that Sonae had their own consultants monitoring the odour and measuring the stack. George Mothers pointed out that we are lacking a regular Forum where these issues from Sonae can be discussed and suggested having a representative from Sonae and the Environmental Health at the next meeting to discuss the problems.

Further discussion followed with George Howarth MP answering questions from members present.

Action: Include Sonae on next Agenda and write to Environmental Health for a representative to attend and provide an up-to-date account.

8)Summary of issues to be taken to Panel - Health issue re: Sonae factory

Community Consultation Unit, 149 Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby L32 8SE, Tel: 0151 546 5137

Freepost address: FREEPOST, Knowsley CVS, NWW 8503 A, Liverpool L36 2BR Email: ccu.kcvs@virgin.net (email here

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Pauline Burrows deserves acknowledgement for raising the issue as one of concern to the community. As Chair of the Community Health Forum and representative of the Alziemers Society, it is good that she takes an interest. However, the reference to Sonae looking into extending the chimney may have been answered by George Howarth who must surely know that permission has long been given for this chimney.

George Howarth and lifestyle cancers in Northwood

Howarth shows his real allegiance to Sonae when he explains that "the extremely high rates of cancer and respiratory diseases in Northwood could be linked to people's lifestyles (smoking, drinking and eating)" George Howarth is aware that having thousands of tons of carcinogenic dust and a cocktail of poisons and toxins stored on our doorsteps is dangerous, but he does not live near Sonae. George Howarth must have also been contacted by Peter Mandelson when the DTI gave Sonae 1.9 Million. Mandelson has already shown himself to be devious, treacherous and sleazy and can never be trusted in having any say in the future of Kirkby. George Howarth acts like he himself is merely some innocent local bystander who was as surprised and disgusted as us when Sonae came here. As our MP he would have had prior knowledge of the Sonae plan. We ask - when did Mr Howarth first know about Sonae? Maybe the Northwood Labour Party representative in attendance - Terry Garland - may wish to chase that matter up and get the rest of the complacent Labourites in Kirkby to actually do something more than sob in their pints over the issue. It was a political decision taken by the Labour controlled Council that bought Sonae here.

Pauline Burrows felt it could also be the "general environment in which we live". But the general environment, which was already bad, should have been ample reason to refuse any more environmentally damaging factories on the Industrial Estate near Kirkby. Howarth seems to be aware of toxic pollution from the days when ammunition dumps were here - so why did he allow Sonae to come here? Howarth's going to have to work damn hard for his votes from now on in.

Local farmers monitoring Sonae

This remark of Local farmers monitoring Sonae" in the minutes is not attributed to anyone in particular - but although we welcome farmers monitoring the situation - it sounds like they are just doing what most of us do - and check the amount of dust and how bad the smell is each day. The farmers, we presume, have not got access to expensive monitoring devices to measure the dozens of pollutants coming out of the toxic dump. The people who should be monitoring Sonae 24/7 are Knowsley Environmental Health, who seem to still be trying to 'locate the source' of thousands of tons of dust and crap pouring over us after almost 4 years of this crap polluting us. Howarth knows all about this and seems to have left members of this 'network' with only snippets of news - perhaps he even suckered them into saying things 'in confidence' - The Council are more worried about their own staff leaking info about Sonae - too late. Sonae are also worried about ex staff coming forward or ones who work there - too late.

George Howarth, the continuing 'Tricky situation' and Sonae.

George Howarth told us back in April that "I know people locally are, like you, very concerned about Sonae and I fully share those concerns. (Classic MP's opening line) The situation at this time is, however, tricky in that a number of things are happening but, in some cases for legal reasons, those agencies involved are unable to say much publicly. " One member in attendence explained how they were "concerned for the children in the area going to school as there seemed to be a lot more coughing and eye watering." Howarth falls over himself to point out reasons why Sonae isn't really to blame! Howarth knows that emissions of toxic metals etc are not being regularly tested to see if they are above permitted levels - Sonae are burning more and more debris from building sites etc containing heavy metals - but who is testing it? - most people aren't even aware that the Sonae smog is actually the fumes from debris along with a token amount of 'clean wood' which in incinerated and dries out the wood dust so it can be turned into the final product. As Howarth says -"Complaints have been made to the factory but Sonae have always been within the recommended emission criteria." They may as well say Sonae are legally entitled to kill us. Pauline Burrows felt that she would like "the situation monitored regularly." Let's hope more of the Kirkby area Consultation network members will speak out and perhaps push for action. Howarth must be made to fall in line with the communities' wishes and if he chooses to continue in his defence of the indefensible then he must be voted out as must all the Labour Councillors who have remained silent and contributed nothing to the public arena. Kirkby Councillors should be forced to explain their role in the Sonae factory and explain why they are not listening to the people of Northwood.

One final point - the Sonae piece taken from the minutes ended off with this little matter - "Action: Include Sonae on next Agenda" - Now ask yourself how many meetings we've had with various parties discussing the matter - and each meeting will likely end on a similar note - as if putting the issue on an agenda to discuss further is actually action!