Following the response of asphalt plant applicant Eurovia, published this morning, to a letter from Andrew Turner calling for answers to questions over the plant and Highways PFI, this further response from Andrew Turner’s office. Ed
Mr Turner last week wrote to Mr Wardrop detailing various concerns and questions raised with him by constituents which the company had failed to respond to. Yesterday, Mr Turner was told that Mr Wardrop was willing to meet him face-to-face to discuss the issues, but the MP says it is too late now for private meetings to allay the widespread public concerns.
Eurovia failed to respond to requests to meet
Mr Turner said, “I have heard nothing directly from Eurovia about a meeting. As made clear in my letter I tried repeatedly to arrange to meet them privately to discuss these issues – but they failed to respond.
“A failure for Eurovia to respond properly has also been the experience of many Islanders worried their lives and health will be blighted if the asphalt plant is built; it has also been the experience of our local media when trying to establish whether Eurovia will be transporting asphalt across the Solent.”
Meeting should be in public
He went on to say, “Since reports emerged that Eurovia are now willing to meet me privately I have been contacted by WRAP representatives and others saying very clearly that they object to a private meeting and want to ask Mr Wardrop their questions themselves. I can fully understand why they feel that way.
“I have been really impressed by the work that ordinary people with busy lives have put into finding out the technical, logistical and legal information needed to challenge some of Eurovia’s claims – and it demonstrates to me how worried they are about the effect this asphalt plant would have on them and their families.”
MP will organise and chair a public meeting
Mr Turner went on to say, “There is no way I would have all that expertise and knowledge available in a private meeting – so a public meeting would be better for all parties; including Eurovia if they want people to believe what they are saying. I know Islanders are sensible and reasonable people – and I know they are also more than capable of making their own minds up!
“I very much welcome Eurovia’s somewhat belated recognition that these are serious concerns that must be addressed. I will gladly organise and chair a public meeting for Mr Wardrop and his colleagues to answer the questions of worried Islanders directly. It is a pity it is necessary – but Eurovia have failed to answer reasonable questions from residents for so long that I am afraid the time has passed for private assurances to me that everything is OK and nobody has anything to worry about.”
Image: © IslandMP
