Charlton ECO Park - so many questions, so few answers

A special meeting of Spelthorne Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee is to be held to look closely at the proposal for a so-called Eco Park at Charlton Lane. Sunbury and Halliford Liberal Democrat Councillors have been asking for this meeting since December last year and only now have the Spelthorne's Conservative majority allowed a public meeting.

The meeting will take place in the John Crook Theatre, Halliford School, Russell Road, Shepperton on Wednesday the 20th October at 7:30 PM.

Representatives of Surrey County Council and their partners will be answering questions which have been asked in advance by members of the public and from the committee members.

The deadline for the submission of questions by the public will be Friday 15 October 2010.

The form for asking questions is available from the Spelthorne Borough Council website at

http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/news/nws_10_ecopark.htm

Local Liberal Democrats have been trying to get proper public scrutiny of the proposals ever since Surrey announced its intention to redevelop the Charlton Lane site. Spelthorne Conservatives have consistently refused to support any scrutiny by local Councillors, claiming that it was not appropriate until enough details were known. Surrey County Council are expected to submit their planning application on the site in the next few weeks and it is almost too late to have any influence on the plan.

Cllr Lawrence Nichols said "The way that Surrey insist on calling the site an 'Eco Park' and a 'world-class' waste management facility whilst at the same time ducking real public scrutiny is shameful. After a single public meeting in Lower Sunbury they have consistently avoided direct contact with the public. If this is such a good idea, why have they been so reluctant to talk to residents and give us all the good news? This scrutiny meeting is long overdue."

There are a great number of questions that need to be answered. There are a range of questions about the location of a co-incinerator- why is Spelthorne the best place for a facility of this nature? There are also a large number of technical questions that have been raised about emissions, sustainability and economic viability.

The Liberal Democrats would encourage as many people as possible to attend this meeting and be able to form their own view.

Tell us what you think - email us at ecopark@SpelthorneLibDems.org.uk