Residents team-up to fight eco waste plant

Aug 13 2010 By Suzy Talbot

Plans for the expanded waste plant in Shepperton

RESIDENTS have started a campaign against the eco park in Shepperton, claiming it will severely damage the health of people in the area.

The residents' association for Charlton, Kempton, Lower Sunbury, Sunbury Common and the Green Street Action Group held a meeting on August 4 to discuss the Surrey Waste Management Plan.

Part of the plan is to create an eco-park at the existing waste plant in Charlton Lane, Shepperton.

Keith Johnson, a member of the association said: “The term “Eco Park” conveys an image of something green and pleasant. In reality what is proposed is the addition of two industrial process plants, a mini-power station and chimney to the existing waste transfer station.

“Spelthorne is being asked to take a third of Surrey’s waste yet it is the most densely populated borough in the County and the least healthy. It already has areas of high atmospheric pollution and cannot be asked to risk more without jeopardising the health of current and future generations.”

The start of the campaign by residents comes as Surrey County Council claims the eco-park would reduce the amount of lorries to the site by 49 per cent.

There are currently 350 lorry visits a day to the site and the council says the Eco park will generate 179 daily journeys because of new technology used to crush the waste.

Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, Lynne Hack, said: “With landfill costs soaring by millions of pounds each year, we need more cost effective and greener ways of disposing of Surrey’s waste and the Eco Park is a key part of the solution.”

A public meeting will be held at the council offices in Knowle Green on September 21 before the planning application is submitted in October.
The residents' association plans to submit a petition at the meeting.

The Eco Park would deal with just under 30% of Surrey’s waste.

The plans include:
· A gasification facility that will treat 60,000 tonnes of household waste each year.
· An anaerobic digestion facility that will treat 40,000 tonnes of Surrey’s food waste.
· Facilities to manage recyclable waste such as paper, glass and plastics.
· A community recycling centre.
· A visitor education centre.