Shepperton waste park plan to be debated in Commons

SCC said the plant would treat 60,000 tonnes of household waste each year

Controversial plans to extend a waste and recycling plant in Surrey are to be debated in Parliament.

Conservative MP for Spelthorne, Kwasi Kwarteng, is to speak in an adjournment debate on Monday on the "eco park" at Charlton Lane, Shepperton.

Surrey County Council (SCC) granted planning permission for the extension in June despite fierce opposition from local people and the borough council.

The half-hour debate will include a response from a government minister.

An adjournment debate allows backbench MPs to raise constituency matters in the House of Commons without requiring it to vote.

'Strong objection'

The eco park will feature a gasification chamber, which heats waste to produce gas for energy.

Residents living nearby expressed fears the extension would lead to increased pollution and traffic problems.

Borough councillors also registered a "very strong objection", saying they could not support plans to build in the green belt which did not show there were "very special circumstances".

SCC said the plant would treat 60,000 tonnes of household waste each year, while an anaerobic digestion facility would dispose of 40,000 tonnes of food waste.

The council said sending waste to landfill costs Surrey taxpayers about £600,000 every month and damages the environment.

The government is likely to make the final decision on the eco-park after Spelthorne council asked the Secretary of State to "call in" the application.