Well there is good news and bad news this update!
The bad news is, despite massive opposition and a demonstration attended by nearly 200 people the weekend before, Sita and Surrey CC ignored concerns and started felling hundreds of trees and shrubs in our Virgin green belt around the OUTSIDE of the current tip site. Surrey argues that it is being done legally, although it is very controversial.
But why do this environmental vandalism now? When Surrey CC is still weighing up whether or not to continue with the Eco Park or not?…desperation! They now are beginning to realise how wrong they have got it, and what reputational damage will be caused if it doesn’t happen…tens, if not hundreds of millions of pounds of residents council tax already wasted with nothing to show for this white elephant pipe dream. And remember Surrey CC has just agreed to put up council tax again, whilst wasting millions on a high risk incinerator that isn’t even needed!
They are rushing to push the Eco park to a point of no return.
Sita are not allowed to fell any trees due to bird nesting between March and September, and despite the real possibility of the Eco Park being stopped now, they have gambled and destroyed more of our green belt ‘in anticipation of the start of construction later in the year’. Surrey officer Ian Boast has confirmed that all the felled trees will have to be replaced if/when the Eco park is cancelled…it beggars belief!
So what is the good news? More delay and questions about costs!
The price of the Eco Park has been put up by suppliers due to Surrey missing key deadlines..(not caused by a resident lodging a judicial review with the high court, as Surrey make out, this was after the missed deadline). Because of this, a new ‘value for money’ assessment must be carried out by Surrey CC. It was due to be discussed at a cabinet meeting on February 24th, but this has been postponed until April now! One can only guess they are struggling to make the Eco Park ‘value for money’ on paper, so need more time! Satep retains the opinion that the Eco Park as it is, can never be value for money, in fact unviable. There are many mistruths floating around, and options given by officers in previous ‘value’ assessments were not level playing fields, and very questionable…we will see in April!
Thanks if you have supported u already. Also thanks to the residents associations of Lower Sunbury, Shepperton, Laleham and Charlton Village, who have donated substantial amounts. We need more funds though. You can donate with Paypal at www.satep.co.uk. Or you can send a cheque made out to SATEP’ to c/o 137 Walnut Tree Rd, Shepperton, TW17 0RR.
Together as a community we can STOP this!