Protesters fight rubbish dump plans

More than 150 fuming residents joined forces to fight proposals for a new rubbish dump on the outskirts of Brent.

The outraged protesters from Dollis Hill attended a public meeting to discuss Barnet Council's planning application to relocate a large waste reprocessing plant to the Edgware Road.

They said the development would mean hundreds of rubbish trucks passing through their leafy residential hub every day, increasing levels of noise, traffic and pollution.

MP for Brent East, Sarah Teather (Liberal Democrat), joined the debate.

She said: "Residents are quite rightly furious at the plan to build a dump on their doorstep, and it is absolutely vital that they get a fair hearing from the leaders of Barnet Council.

"There could be hundreds of extra lorries passing through residential areas in Dollis Hill every single week, not to mention the potential impact of pollution upon residentsÕ health and the environment."

The politician said more time needed to be given for a proper assessment on the impact of Barnet's plans.

She added: "To press ahead regardless of such passionate opposition would be a gross insult to all those who turned out to defend our quality of life."

The dump is planned to be built on the current site of Bestway, close to close to Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School.

Dawood Parvez, director of the cash and carry, said: "The developers are proposing to compulsory purchase our store, threatening jobs, livelihoods and the many local businesses that we serve."

Plans also include a site on Tilling Way, next to the North Circular, where the developers intend to burn waste.

They claim it will be a combined heat and power station, but Brent Friends of the Earth have voiced concerns that an incinerator could be built there.

Viv Stein, spokeswoman for the green organisation, said: "Developers' plans lack crucial detail on the type of technology and likely emissions, so we cannot assess the full environmental impact. We cannot let this application go through in outline without this information.

"Incineration undermines recycling, contributes to climate change, and is not a sustainable way of dealing with waste."

Protesters say only a handful of Brent households have been consulted about the plans which are due to go in front of a Barnet Council planning committee next month.