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Surrey County Council approve Shepperton eco park
THE controversial plan to build an eco park at the Charlton Lane Recycling Centre in Shepperton was today approved by Surrey County Council..
Despite strong protests from residents, batch oxidisation gasification - a process that heats waste to power electricity - and an anaerobic digestion system will now be built on the site.
Local residents and campaigners from the Spelthorne Against the Eco Park group have vowed to fight on, and plan to launch a judicial review against the decision. Adrian Corti said: "The decision was expected, but there are still a lot of questions to be asked. We are still very positive, we have a very strong case to present to the Secretary of State that's for sure. I am not surprised by the outcome, it was pre-decided."
Dr Lynne Hack, Surrey County Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, said: "The Eco Park will help to end our reliance on landfill which costs Surrey residents £600,000 a month in taxes alone and is set to rise. Thanks to the good work of Surrey residents about half of Surrey's waste is recycled which means we're able to create a smaller development like the eco park rather than large scale incinerators. It will enable us to treat people's food waste and household rubbish in a more cost effective and environmentally friendly way, while generating electricity from waste that can't be recycled."
The eco park will deal with 40,000 tonnes of food waste and 60,000 tonnes of household rubbish each year.
The application was submitted to Surrey County Council by Sita, which is contracted by the council to deal with the county's waste.
For the full details, including interviews, see next week's edition of the Surrey Herald.
Email beckymiddleton@trinitysouth.co.uk with your response to the decision
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This had little to do with better recovery of energy from waste or recycling, and everything to do with political convenience and commercial profit. Truth, better recycling and Spelthorne's people are the victims, as is Green Belt protection.
Gasification of residual waste is the next logical step in an integrated waste policy. A gasifier is NOT an incinerator, and if the good burghers of Sunbury don't want one then you shouldn't produce the waste in the first instance. Your waste - your problem. Live with it.
Gasification of residual waste is the next logical step in an integrated waste policy. A gasifier is NOT an incinerator, and if the good burghers of Sunbury don't want one then you shouldn't produce the waste in the first instance. Your waste - your problem. Live with it.
Conrad Meads is wrong. EU guidelines classify what is proposed for Charlton as an incinerator. Secondly, the residents of Sunbury / Charlton / Halliford would be much happier if it was only handling their waste, and we were not Surrey's chosen dumping ground for everyone else's waste as well.
The great thing from the point of view of most Surrey County Council Area residents is that the prevailing winds will carry any emissions quickly into the Greater London Council Area.
With the existing air pollution levels in the Sunbury Cross Area any extra pollution will not be as easily noticed by the public. Even if it is noticed only a small number of Surrey County Council Area residents will be affected and so they can be ignored. And in any case part of the area potentially affected does not elect Conservative local government councillors making it even easier for them to be ignored. The decision could not have been any easier one for County Councillors, primarily concerned to keep any development out of their own back yards, to make.
The great thing from the point of view of most Surrey County Council Area residents is that the prevailing winds will carry any emissions quickly into the Greater London Council Area.
With the existing air pollution levels in the Sunbury Cross Area any extra pollution will not be as easily noticed by the public. Even if it is noticed only a small number of Surrey County Council Area residents will be affected and so they can be ignored. And in any case part of the area potentially affected does not elect Conservative local government councillors making it even easier for them to be ignored. The decision could not have been any easier one for County Councillors, primarily concerned to keep any development out of their own back yards, to make.
Dr Lynne Hack says because Surrey residents are recycling so much Surrey is able to create a smaller development like the eco park rather than large scale incinerator. Because of their size small scale incinerators can only be inefficient. Surrey should be looking at building larger, very efficient, CHP (Combined Heat and Power) plants in suitable sited areas.
Absolutely first rate and coeppr-bottomed, gentlemen!