Green space boost for planned Shepperton 'eco park'

The facility would include a chamber where waste would be heated to produce gas for energy

Plans to extend a waste recycling centre in Shepperton have seen seven more acres of landscaped grassland added to the designs.

Surrey County Council said the move enhanced the "green credentials" of the "eco park" in Charlton Lane.

The council said it brought the total planned landscaped area to 13 acres.

The proposals had led to fears about traffic and pollution - a petition against the plans signed by 1,600 people was handed in last month.

Dr Lynne Hack, environment spokesman for the Conservative-run council, said: "The eco park has been designed to be a good looking facility and we're keen to enhance it further."

She said the council wanted people to use the green spaces to relax and enjoy themselves.

Tree planting

Surrey County Council said the existing centre had no landscaped areas.

But a Green Party councillor from Surrey's Reigate and Banstead borough said the facility was an incinerator hidden in an eco park.

Jonathan Essex, who has attended public meetings about the plans, said: "Landscaping this incinerator in a so-called 'eco park' is just green-wash."

He added: "A real eco park would create jobs in the reuse, repair and re-manufacture of materials that would otherwise be wasted. And composting of food waste can be done more efficiently at existing local sewage treatment plants.

"There's absolutely no advantage in co-locating an incinerator in a recycling centre."

Surrey Waste Management is working on behalf of Surrey County Council (SCC) to develop the centre at Charlton Lane.