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 town of Killamarsh on the border of South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, England. [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.
Formation of RASP
After a public meeting called by the Socialist Party (England and Wales), [2] 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 protesters even travelled to SARP's headquarters in France to protest.
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. [3]
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
[4]
References
- ^ "Noxious Emissions..." Corporate Watch. Archived from the original on 13 August 2006. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ^ Stevens, Robert. "British company leaks deadly gas into residential areas". wsws.org. International Committee of the Fourth International. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ^ Victory Over Polluters, The Socialist 12 November 1999
- ^ RASP Officers from RASP website - retrieved 17 August 2007