The introductory Line to the Eco Park Story on the SCC Website reads as follows: "Plans to create an Eco Park to treat waste and generate green electricity have been given the go-ahead by the Government".
This statement is of course pure spin and factually untrue. The Secretary of State did not "call in" the application so has not expressed a view one way or the other. He simply referred it back to SCC. The County Council should not be allowed to hide behind the Minister by implying that the decision had nothing to do with them.
The following question has been submitted by the Hon. Chairman, LOSRA, for reply at Council on 13th December 2011:
"Council will be aware that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has, after 5 months of deliberation, declined to call-in the application to install a gasifier and anaerobic digester at the Charlton Lane Waste Management Facility in Shepperton, thus referring it back to SCC for determination.
Council will also be aware that it was after approval by the Planning & Regulatory Committee of the application by SITA UK that the Advertising Standards Authority found that Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) Code had been breached in respect of rules 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 (Misleading advertising), 3.7 (unsubstantiated claims), 11.1 and 11.4 (Environmental claims).My question comes in 4 parts:
- Will the Council accept that the public consultation which was required to be undertaken by SITA UK was flawed in that the Company misled the public in the critical areas highlighted by the ASA?
- Since the ASA has found against SITA UK in these critical areas will the Council accept that the public have not therefore been consulted with the full and unvarnished truth; and that SITA UK’s obligation to consult the public has therefore not been fulfilled?
- Given that the ASA adjudication was published on 26th October 2011, ie after the application had been approved by the PRC, will the Council now take the procedural/legal steps necessary to revoke the approval?
- If the Council does not, will it accept that for the historical record, and for the enlightenment of future generations, it has approved the installation of the gasifier in a populated area of Sunbury/Shepperton, and in an Area of Air Quality Management (AQM), without evidence that it is a proven environmental technology; and without evidence that it has operated successfully elsewhere?"
