St Albans residents asked to look for blimp

RESIDENTS throughout St Albans have been asked to look out for a blimp that will be floating above a site in Hatfield marking the height of the flue of a proposed controversial incinerator.

Campaigners, including villagers in Colney Heath, are asking locals to take note of whether they can spot the blimp, which is to float at a height of 75m possibly tomorrow, Friday May 25, or on Monday May 28.

It is part of a study into the visual impact of the incinerator, which has caused outrage among campaigners who fear an increase in traffic and pollution.

Farmers in Colney Heath have joined the growing chorus of disapproval against the county incinerator, saying it is not suitable to build it near agricultural land between the village and Hatfield.

Veolia has submitted its planning application to Herts county council to build the facility at New Barnfield, to treat 380,000 tonnes of municipal, commercial and industrial waste a year.

It carried out a similar experiment with a blimp in September as part of that application.

But English Heritage has asked for a new assessment to gauge visual impact across heritage sites and the likes of Hatfield House.

Campaign group Hatfield Against Incineration has said it was important to also note whether the flue would be visible at local schools, and from residents’ homes and gardens.