Liberal Democrat ward councillors have commented on the news that three new sites in the borough of Kingston upon Thames will be included in the latest stage of public consultation on the future of waste management facilities in South London.

Executive Member for Planning and Development, Cllr Simon James explained: "Despite being graded as poorly suited for waste treatment purposes, there are three sites in Kingston which residents, land owners or waste operators have suggested for consideration in the South London Waste Plan.

"Although the Council considers these locations less appropriate than those included in the previous consultation which took place between July and October last year, we want to make sure all ideas are open for public discussion, that residents have their say on this important future planning process."

Kingston's 'additional sites' in the consultation are:

• Open area of land adjacent to the Chessington Garden Centre
• Land to the south of Silvergrade Business Park
• Land at the Hogsmill Valley

Sites from Croydon, Merton and Sutton are also included.

Cllr Tricia Bamford, ward member for Chessington South said: "I've been contacted by a number of local residents worried about the possibility of waste treatments facilities being built near where they live. I would like to reassure people living in the South of the Borough that our two new sites scored poorly under the assessment criteria for suitability for waste management facilities.”

Cllr Liz Green, councillor for St Mark's ward in Surbiton added: "The Hogsmill Valley area is also unlikely to be prioritised for development.

“The South London Waste Plan is opening up new areas of land across the whole of South London - in the boroughs of Croydon, Kingston, Merton and Sutton - for public consideration. The three sites in Kingston were not considered appropriate enough to be included in the consultation last year, and they aren’t even shortlisted for recommendation in this stage.

“There are obstacles to the three locations being finalised in the waste plan such as flood risk, traffic impacts and visual intrusion.

“However, if you have views on the sites in question, please do get involved in the consultation before 22nd March”

Consultation

The consultation will run from 8 February until 22 March 2010.

Questionnaires and consultation materials are available online.

Alternatively, the consultation documents are available in libraries, council main receptions or by contacting Emma Smyth, Waste Planning Project Manager
Tel: 020 8547 5375

To accommodate this extra phase of consultation, the final version of the South London Waste Plan is now due to be published in the autumn of 2010. It will then be submitted to the Secretary of State for examination by an independent planning inspector.