Mogden Residents Action Group has asked me to post this update.Quote"In an incredible display of hostility towards residents of Hounslow, Isleworth, Twickenham, St Margaret's, Whitton and Richmond, Hounslow Council has given the green light to Investment Bankers, The Macquarie Group, to almost double the treatment capacity of the failed Mogden STW. Despite residents' repeated requests to defer the planning application for another 7 months until after the High Court of Justice has ruled on a Group Litigation for an injunction against the operators of Mogden, Thames Water, the Sustainable Development Committee approved the expansion which Hounslow's Chief Pollution Control Officer advised the meeting would create more odour but 'it would be less odorous'Only ICG Cllr John Hardy voted against the application which was recommended for approval by Labour Cllrs Ruth Cadbury and John Cooper and pushed with ease past a spineless, gormless conservative majority. Spectators were astounded to hear Cllrs Lily Bath and Brad Fisher vote in favour of the expansion which will have a direct effect on their own constituents. Whilst ICG Cllr Paul Fisher had to leave the meeting after having declared an interest by confirming his membership of the MRAG Committee, it was only Cllr Jon Hardy that appeared to have done his homework on the issues at hand and was able to ask intelligent and important questions concerning environmental impact and health issues which clearly had Thames Water and Council Officers stumbling for answers. However the simplistic and amateurish content of the questions raised by some other SDC members demonstrated a total lack of understanding of the issues and Thames Water was able to wipe the floor with ease. Thames Water representatives themselves expressed amazement at the way the fiasco was handled but were clearly delighted at the outcome which will see Ofwat agreement of £ 400 million for the expansion project which is expected to last until 2013. It is expected that at least one Thames Water Director, who steered this application, will see substantial productivity bonuses being paid in the coming years. The meeting hailed by some spectators as a fiasco, a debacle and a shambles was recorded live on webcam and it was clear that some SDC members were out of their depth when Thames Water's External Affairs Director made his slick presentation. One Cllr laughingly admitted she had never even been to Mogden (and why would she, she lives in Chiswick). Whilst Cllrs originally voted 5 to 2 in favour of refusal of the application, the Lead Member for Environment, Cllr Barbara Reid, performed an incredible U-turn by voting in favour of the application after hearing the Borough Legal Assistant advise if Thames went to appeal it may cost Hounslow to defend the appeal .Whilst the legal assistant advised that costs of such appeals shouldn't be of concern to SDC members in the decision making process it, was enough to see the Conservatives quickly changing their minds and supporting the New Labour motion to approve the application. So keen was Cllr Reid to change her vote that she broke protocol by supporting the approval motion before allowing Richmond resident Barry Edwards to speak. Residents of Hounslow Borough were effectively barred from speaking at the meeting as the letter sent to residents inviting participation was already time barred when it was received. An email was sent to Hounslow's Director of Environment and copied to all SDC Members, advising that any decision to proceed with the meeting and / or any decision to approve the application could be vulnerable to Judicial Review based on failure to ensure appropriate public participation in the decision making process contrary to Article 6 of the Aarhus Convention. The email was acknowledged at the meeting by Cllr Ruth Cadbury and SDC Members were asked for comment. None was forthcoming and the Borough Legal Assistant shrugged off the matter by implying that public participation was not a requirement of Hounslow Council, ignoring the fact that the convention was transposed into UK Law by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Whilst it is a total disgrace that Hounslow residents were excluded, Richmond residents were represented by Environmental Scientist Barry Edwards who provided expert opinion on current failings at Mogden, reasons why expansion would create additional odour and expert advice of action required to abate the nuisance. It was noted that Storm Tanks which cause odour problems in both Richmond and Hounslow have been filled to capacity during January and February but only two of eight are covered. It was requested that the remaining 6 are covered. Thames Water refused and the Council Environmental Head appeared to have little understanding of the obligations of Utilities companies by informing the committee that Thames Water couldn't cover the storm tanks because Ofwat had not agreed to fund the operation. No Cllr asked the obvious question on why Thames Water couldn't fund it from its own massive profits. This is a sad day for the communities of Richmond and Hounslow which will see Macquarie Group / Thames Water profits soar whilst property prices tumble as the area becomes a massive cesspool. This Council has had the opportunity to engage with the community but it has turned its back on residents and failed the communities of Hounslow and Richmond miserably. ICG Cllr Phil Andrews who has been campaigning tirelessly since 1998 to improve the situation at Mogden, with little assistance from Council officers, and open hostility from opposition Cllrs said: "There is not a word in the English language to describe the way I feel right now. Officers, at best, were remiss in failing to share crucial information with the Committee regarding possible funding options for the covering of the storm tanks, but frankly I don't envisage that any action will be taken nor even any questions asked."I would like to sincerely apologise to my constituents and to ask them to bear with us, for I promise that whatever happens over the coming weeks and months Isleworth residents will not be the sacrifice" MRAG's environmental scientist Barry Edwards from St Margaret's, who addressed the SDC had this to say: "I have never experienced such a planning evening. We had won, all the points were made and refusal was 5 to 2. Then the Councillors (with the officers help) managed to talk themselves out of it!!"MRAG Co-founder, Hanifa Dobson, who has an in depth knowledge of the Mogden operation and vast experience of dealing with Hounslow's Environment Department and has constantly questioned its capabilities and motives, had predicted that Officers would turn against the community by taking the easy option and reducing their workload simply added: "It came really as no surprise." MRAG's secretary Steve Taylor said "I was quite astonished. On the one hand Hounslow's Divisional Head of Regulatory Services,, Cathy Gallagher, told the committee that her department is under-resourced and on the other hand she recommended approval of this application which she has promised the committee will result in additional policing of Mogden by her overworked officers. She has no real understanding of Mogden and I don't think she has ever visited the site. She was clearly out of her depth but the most frightening and inexcusable blunder is that she ignored our request, based on legal advice, that a decision should only be made after the High Court has considered the matter given that this will involve full disclosure and expert evidence on the problem and the solution from both sides." This is a Technology & Construction Court case which will result in a thorough consideration of the issues by an experienced Judge. The Court’s decision would undoubtedly have put the committee in a much better position to judge the current application and would have only delayed the application by a few months as the 6 week trial is due to commence in October. Cathy Gallagher's insistence in recommending this application to an inexperienced committee with the full knowledge that an experienced High Court Judge would soon be hearing all evidence is irresponsible and indicates total lack of respect or concern for the community she purports to serve. Having said that, all members of the committee, including the chair, were made aware of the current situation and ongoing situation. Their attitude was that if they refused the application Hounslow may lose control of the issue as they risked the Mayor of London calling it in, or possibly a public enquiry which would mean referral to the Secretary of State. They ignored Barry Edwards' argument that perhaps residents would welcome a public enquiry and senior government intervention.Hounslow Council has had 15 years of control, and it has offered little more than a tick box, reporting regime which effectively advises complainants that the site is operating normally or that the storm tanks are being used.Solicitor Neil Stockdale, of Hugh James Solicitors, who is handling the Group Litigation against Thames Water added: "I fully expect Thames’ expansion plans to be carefully scrutinised by Mr Justice Ramsey at the trial of the residents’ case in October. Whether this was the right decision remains to be seen " If you have any comments or questions please email MRAG27@aol.com and please continue to register your complaints through us.Mogden Residents Action Group (MRAG)" Unquote
Steve Taylor ● 6288d