Please look out for another fake incinerator survey and send a letter.
To qualify for a £169m grant Norfolk County Council are required to demonstrate a broad consensus supporting their incinerator strategy. A leaked document revealed the developer and Norfolk County Council both expected to lose the official ballot well before it took place. This is the real reason they chose not to participate despite having prepared their submission to go on the other half of the ballot paper. Instead the developer engaged an established market research company to use leading questions in a telephone survey. Documents show they intended to release their results just before those of the official ballot in an effort to “undermine its moral value”. Their efforts failed when their strategy document was leaked to the press in advance.
The County Council are still in denial claiming most people would like an incinerator, yet they cannot identify a single community willing to host it. When there are environmentally friendly alternatives there is no reason why anyone should want it. The Council have misrepresented incineration as the only alternative to landfill. If it really was, every council in the country would be have opted for incineration.
How can the County Council possibly show a ‘broad consensus’? Either the developer or Norfolk County Council will probably try their luck with yet another fake survey. Twice now leading questions have been used to create a false impression incineration is popular. Desperation and the prospect of a £500m contract are powerful incentives.
What can you do if an agency calls asking you to support incineration?
- Make a note of the time and date.
- Ask them who is their client?
- Ask for their name/business card.
- Ask them why they are conducting the survey and what will the information be used for?
- Demand to have a copy of their ‘survey’ questions.
- Do answer all their questions politely making it clear you do not welcome their incinerator.
- Make your own notes on how they conduct themselves, if they attempted to lead or persuade you to give a favourable response instead of simply recording your opinion your notes could become useful evidence.
- Please bring it to the attention of info@farmerscampaign.org or info@klwin.com
Instead of the criticism Secretary of State Caroline Spelman MP should be commended for not bending the rules to help the County Council ignore the people of West Norfolk. Please spare a few minutes and write to let her know her careful consideration is appreciated.
PERSONAL for the attention of:
Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
Email caroline@carolinespelman.com