Campaigner raises concerns despite bin depot climbdown

A campaigner rallying against changes to how a Surrey bin depot operates says she is "pleased that the council has seen sense" after initial plans were withdrawn.

Elmbridge Borough Council sought to remove restrictions around its Mill Road Depot in Esher which limit Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) near Cranmore Primary and Esher High during the school runs, but announced in April it would reconsider the plans following pushback.

Denise Pavey, one of the campaigners fighting the plans, said residents were "very disappointed" that the council intended to submit an amended application.

Pavey said: "Now is the time for Elmbridge to protect the future amenity of local people, not give it away."

She added: "Our biggest concern is that we cannot predict or influence what East Surrey might do with the depot.

"We are concerned that we will have to wade through this whole new application in order to properly understand it and object again."

Under the previous plans, Elmbridge wanted to lift limits on Douglas Road and The Woodlands to HGVs between 08:00 and 09:00 and 14:45 to 15:45 on school days, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Campaigners' concerns included that 26-tonne refuse lorries would be able to drive down the small residential roads that children use to walk to school.

The council announced on 30 April that it would shelve its current application and residents' views would be "fully considered as part of a revised planning application, which we expect to submit in the coming weeks".

It said it recognised concerns about noise and disturbance as well as access times to the waste depot but pledged to come back with a revised application.

A council spokesperson also said it would hold drop-in sessions so that residents could ask questions ahead of the revised planning application.

Elmbridge Borough Council was approached for comment regarding Pavey's comments.

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