Mark Garnier MP spoke today at the Fire Futures Forum, organised by the Chief Fire Officers Association.
The aim of the forum was to generate debate about how best to tackle the problem of fires in waste management and recycling facilities. The event bought together individuals from across the sector to try and find a cost effective and viable solution to preventing fires at such centres.
Mark opened the event by addressing the conference. He spoke about the fires in Wyre Forest and encouraged attendees to engage their local MPs on this issue.
Mark said “This event was extremely useful in bringing together key policy makers and industry experts. In Kidderminster we have had 2 fires at Lawrence Recycling Centre in the past 12 months, which have had both economic implications including local job losses. It is therefore imperative that a solution is found in order to better prevent such fires in the future”
Speaking at the event Mark Garnier said “I am appealing that you come up with suggestions for a refreshed and appropriate licensing regime for waste recycling centres; for a new protocol on informing the public of what their response should be; and what changes should be brought about into the thorny issue of who bears the costs of the fires.”