A CHILD’S pushchair with a stark warning about protecting the health of babies and children has been chained to a lamppost outside Buttington Trewern County Primary School, near the site of the proposed Buttington Incinerator.

It is the latest protest by the Newtown and Welshpool branch of Extinction Rebellion (XR), as part of the group’s nationwide action called ‘Children's Futures’. The pushchair was left at the school on Saturday, December 12, to highlight the effect of air pollution on children, both directly and through worsening effects of climate breakdown. It will be removed on December 20.

According to the group, babies in the most polluted areas of the UK have a 30-50 per cent higher risk of dying before their first birthday. And XR Newtown & Welshpool are calling on local residents to challenge their Members of the Senedd to stand against the incinerator and also to support their ‘Six Principles’ campaign.

Campaigners hope their principles will be adopted by Welsh political parties ahead of the Senedd elections next May.

The principles are:

- Do what it takes to play our part in limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees centigrade, with much deeper and faster reductions in greenhouse gas emissions

- Champion natural climate solutions to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, halt the decline in wildlife, restore nature and help manage flood risk

- Accept our entire global ecological footprint caused by all the goods we buy, the food we eat, and the supply chains we use

- Help politicians to take bold decisions by holding citizens' assemblies and other forms of public participation, to get to net zero faster and with fairness for all

- Make the future wellbeing of young people, and the generations to come, the centre of our concern, and the focus of our plans

- Support economic sectors which create green jobs in a low carbon revolution that will improve our environment, homes and communities and safeguard our health

XR Newtown & Welshpool spokesperson David France said: “This so-called energy recovery project has a carbon and pollution output comparable to a coal-fired power station, next to a school.

“Despite massive community opposition, the Buttington Incinerator is continuing. This is just one example of how our governments have failed us at every level, leaving us on a path to extinction. We need an upgrade to democracy, which we would see if the Senedd adopt the Six Principles.”

County Times: What the sign on the pushchair readsWhat the sign on the pushchair reads

Around 100 local residents held a protest in October against plans to build the new incinerator, to be located at Buttington Quarry near Trewern.

Villagers fear fumes from the incinerator, which will burn up to 167,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste each year, will cause health problems for children and residents.

The site of the proposed incinerator has attracted massive controversy and outrage. In October, the Buttingtom Incinerator Impact Group (BIIG) held a demonstration at the school with nearly 100 protesters, which was also attended by local Powys county councillor for Buttington, Trewern and Middletown, Amanda Jenner, and Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams.

Although it has attracted attention from multiple levels of government, the Buttington incinerator is categorised by the Senedd as a ‘development of national significance’ and is therefore under the jurisdiction of the Welsh Government.

The Extinction Rebellion activists who planned this protest said: “The action is hard-hitting and designed to encourage viewers to consider the futures of our children.

“Some may find the artwork distressing. XR have fully considered valuable feedback from various communities including those who have personally experienced child bereavement. The action has been made while acknowledging that people who have experienced child bereavement may have their trauma triggered by the sight of a mysterious pram.

“By carrying out this action, we are trying to avoid other families suffering the same tragic experience.”

Broad Energy, the company behind the incinerator plans, and who are currently consulting with the public about its plans, were approached for comment but declined.