Residents demonstrate against proposed Pinkham Way Waste site outside Haringey Civic Centre. Picture: Nigel Sutton.

Protesters pleased after plans for Muswell Hill waste plant halted

by Tim Lamden Wednesday, September 5, 2012
6:00 PM

Campaigners are celebrating after the team behind plans for a controversial waste processing plant in Muswell Hill were sent back to the drawing board.

Planning inspector Andrew Mead delivered the news as part of a public inquiry into the North London Waste Plan (NLWP), which has been drawn up by an alliance of seven north London boroughs including Haringey.

Part of the plans for dealing with rubbish in the future include building a waste processing plant in Pinkham Way, Muswell Hill, to process non-recyclable refuse.

The proposal has sparked massive opposition, including the formation of the Pinkham Way Alliance (PWA) protest group.

In June, Mr Mead adjourned the inquiry just two hours in after councils outside London, where north London’s landfill is sent, accused the north London boroughs of not consulting them.

Last Friday he abandoned the inquiry altogether saying the seven boroughs had failed to properly consult with other affected authorities.

Bidesh Sarkar, chairman of Pinkham Way Alliance, said: “What the inspector said was that the north London boroughs had a choice, which was to either withdraw the plan or make good the cooperation which should have been in place in the first place.

“We are waiting to see what they do with that choice. It is certainly a positive development from our perspective.”

A spokesman for the NLWP said it was “disappointed” by the inspector’s decision, adding: “This means further delay and further stages for the waste plan before we can get [it] back to an examination.

“There is still a need for a waste plan for north London that will enable the area to take more responsibility for managing its own waste.”