Incinerator at Charlton Lane Eco Park gets go-ahead despite call-in request

The controversial waste processing development in Charlton Lane, Shepperton has been given clearance to go ahed by Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, despite calls from local residents' representatives for a call-in for review of Surrey County Council's decision by his department.

After months of delay and uncertainty, he has ruled that there is no need to further review the decision to grant planning permission for this development, which is designed to deal with 60,000 tonnes of household rubbish and 40,000 tonnes of food waste, intended to help Surrey County Council towards achieving its long-term aim to eliminate the use of landfill.

Eric Pickles spokesperson said "The Secretary of State has carefully considered this case against call-in policy, as set out in the 1999 Caborn Statement. In his opinion, the proposals do not conflict with national policies or have significant effects beyond their immediate locality, nor does he consider that there is any other sufficient reason to call the application in for his own determination. The decision to grant planning permission will therefore remain with Surrey County Council."

However Lib Dem county councillor Ian Beardsmore (Ashford Common and Sunbury Common) described the spokesperson's statement as "a cop out". Ian was one of the two Lib Dems who were the only County Councillors who voted against SITA's proposal when it was considered by the county council's Planning & Regulatory Committee in June. The one Spelthorne Conservative Councillor on the committee abstained, thus failing to oppose the development, even though the Planning Committee of Conservative-controlled Spelthorne Borough Council had earlier objected very strongly to the plan.

"However, the Conservatives controlling Spelthorne Borough Council did nothing practical to try and prevent this damaging development being dumped on Spelthorne", said Ian. "In response to persistent questioning by Lib Dem councillors, the Tory leader of Spelthorne consistently refused to voice any opposition to SITA's plans. This passive acquiescence was in marked contrast to other Surrey boroughs, who had made their opposition perfectly clear and have been prepared to help fund legal challenges - something Spelthorne refuses to do".

"Local residents presented overwhelming evidence against the so-called Eco Park but were completely ignored. This development represents untested technology on an unparalleled scale in an unsuitable location which already has unsatisfactory air quality."

"Spelthorne Tories shouted long and hard against the incinerator. This is nothing more than a cosmetic U-turn against the idea that they have supported for so long. This change of attitude fools no one. Spelthorne's Tories were not prepared to put their money where their mouth is and support local residents in their legal challenge to Surrey's shameful decision, which flies in the face of science, logic and common sense. It has more to do with where Surrey Conservatives want to dump their waste, whilst retaining grant funding of millions of pounds from DEFRA."