I spoke at last night’s packed public meeting in St Matthews Church in West Drayton organised by the local residents’ association to oppose the planning application by Powerday for a massive recycling operation on Tavistock Road.

I spoke at last night’s packed public meeting in St Matthews Church in West Drayton organised by the local residents’ association to oppose the planning application by Powerday for a massive recycling operation on Tavistock Road.

Over 150 people attended and expressed their worries about the impact of this development so close to a residential area. People’s main concerns were the increase in heavy traffic in an already congested road network, a worsening of air pollution in one of the most air polluted areas in the country and the increase in noise and dust from the site.

All the local councillors, John Randall the MP for Uxbridge and I confirmed our opposition to this planning application. It was reported that a contract had just been signed by the West London Waste Authority to transport local waste by rail to a recycling centre in Bristol.

Local residents have submitted a petition of over 3000 signatures and over 200 letters to the council opposing the planning application. I have expressed my opposition as well.

The Council’s Planning Committee meets on Tuesday 11th December at 8pm at the Civic Centre in Uxbridge. Local residents are urged to attend to show their opposition to this proposal.

If the Council rejects this application it will go the the Mayor for London for his views and if Powerday appeals it will go to the Secretary of State for him to set up a planning appeal inquiry.