Since our last update to readers, we had a small set back in our fight to stop Surrey County Council’s white elephant Eco Park waste disposal incinerator from being bulldozed into highly residential, green belt Shepperton, despite massive opposition.
A local resident had lodged a Judicial Review at the High Court, of Surrey’s handling of the latest planning application for the incinerator. Satep fully supported this and helped raise funds for this.
Despite confidence from solicitors and barristers that our case was strong, the case could only look at the procedure of the planning process used by Surrey CC, which was limited in scope this time. We have since learned that Surrey CC paid expensive lawyers over £11,000 (of residents money!) to make sure their Eco park application was ‘squeaky clean’ & ‘armour plated’ against this legal challenge. This shows how desperate they are, and what we are up against!
In cases like this, it depends on which judge makes the call, as to whether you succeed, the judge this time decided we had no case (thanks to Surrey’s lawyers), and despite a chance of appealing this, the decision was taken not to pursue this, but rather to save our funds for the next battle (and there are many to come!).
Despite the judge ruling against us, it does not mean Surrey are doing the honest, decent or truthful thing here, and it does not mean the Eco Park is green or Eco (which it can never be!), it just means they have ticked the right boxes in the eyes of the law.
Meanwhile, the supplier of the incinerator is putting up the prices, because Surrey CC has made such a mess of it all. Remember it is 5 years late already! There is a Surrey CC cabinet meeting at the end of February, where they will discuss value for money of the scheme, and whether to continue. The Eco Park has not been value for money for a long time, there are far better and much cheaper options out there, but not run by Surrey’s monopoly, profit orientated waste contractor. With the price increase, the Eco Park is unviable, but Surrey will push ahead to save face, out of desperation. The truth is it is totally unviable now, but Surrey councillors are too embarrassed to admit it. This is being inflicted on us, at great cost, to save Surrey face.
SATEP continues to monitor the situation, and has already lined up several new battles to fight. We still remain optimistic we can stop this wrong doing by ego and profit driven Surrey CC.
We are hugely grateful for all the donations from local residents, and thanks to this magazine.
We continue to fund raise, as legal fees have eaten up our fighting fund fast! Any further donations, however small, really do help us in this fight. Together we CAN stop this.
Please donate by…
- Visit the website at www.satep.co.uk where you can donate via paypal. (And find out more)
- Donate straight to the SATEP bank account (please state your name)
Account No 1587 9380
Sort Code 01 01 23
Nat West - Cheques payable to ‘SATEP’ can be sent to :-
SATEP, c/o 137 Walnut Tree Rd, Shepperton, TW17 0RR
Together this community can stop this farce! Remember the rest of Surrey has already said a big No! To this is their areas. It doesn’t really divert waste from landfill, it’s not green or Eco, and is definitely NOTE value for money to tax payers. It is stupidly expensive, highly inefficient and driven by greed and Egos though.
Thanks for your continued support in fighting the ongoing dumping on Spelthorne by Surrey County Council.