Residents Against SARP Pollution

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Residents Against SARP Pollution (RASP) was formed in June 1998 in response to two incidents of toxic gases escaping the SARP UK chemical plant in May 1998, in the Yorkshire town of Killamarsh.[1] The campaign was formed by local residents and members of the Socialist Party (England and Wales). The campaign eventually succeeded in forcing the closure of most of the SARP plant.

Contents

[edit] Background and Toxic Incidents

On Thursday 14th May 1998, a tanker exploded at the SARP UK industrial plant in Killamarsh, forming an orange cloud that spread over the Rother Valley Country Park in Killamarsh, and over Beighton and Waterthorpe in Sheffield.[2]

A second incident occurred on 30th May 1998, when another cloud of toxic gases escaped from the site.[3] The company delayed access to fire engines attending to the site of the accident.[4]

The SARP UK chemical plant had operated on the site for about twenty five years prior to the incidents which gave rise to the formation of Residents Against SARP Pollution.[5] SARP had "a controversial history of fires, gas escapes and protests going back to 1986".[6]

[edit] Formation of RASP

After a public meeting called by the Socialist Party (England and Wales),[7] Ken Coates MEP, who was invited to speak, called for further meetings, which gave rise to the campaign, and also set up an independent inquiry into the site.

The year-long campaign involved marches and rooftop protests. RASP protestors even travelled to SARP's headquarters in France to protest.

[edit] Victory

The campaigners eventually won the closure of six of the seven sections of the site in late 1999, with the local council looking at siting non-toxic recycling processes on the site.[8]

Members of the campaign have continued to support other groups such as CANK who are protesting against toxic waste disposal in residential areas.[9]

[edit] Campaign Officers

Chair - Kevin Jones
Secretary - Faye Moran
Treasurer - Pat Whitehouse
Vice Chair - Roger Barraclough
Membership Secretary - Samantha Martin
Press Officer - John Moran
Campaigns Officer - Alistair Tice
Legal Officer - Bev Smith
Youth Organisers - Tracey Nettleship, Emma Horsford
Publicity Officer - Trevor Cockerill

Contacts for the Townships:-

Beighton - Dave Milsom
Wales/Kiveton - Mike Sampson
Swallownest - Paul Marshall [10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Open Letter from John Moran, RASP Press Officer
  2. ^ A toxic cloud over Yorkshire, The Socialist, 28/05/98
  3. ^ Close this toxic waste plant, The Socialist 12/06/98
  4. ^ [http://archive.corporatewatch.org/magazine/issue8/cw8tox2.html Noxious Emissions, Corporate Watch Spring 1999
  5. ^ Open Letter from John Moran, RASP Press Officer
  6. ^ A toxic cloud over Yorkshire, The Socialist 28/05/98
  7. ^ Action to stop killer chemical plant, The Socialist 05/06/98
  8. ^ Victory Over Polluters, The Socialist 12/11/99
  9. ^ Open Letter from John Moran, RASP Press Officer
  10. ^ RASP Officers from RASP website - retrieved 17/08/07

[edit] External links

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