Fury at plans to expand Mogden sewage plant

Apr 6 2009 By Jessica Thomas

Pong protesters demonstrated outside Mogden Sewage Works in Isleworth over plans to expand the plant by more than 50 per cent.

Nearly 100 residents from Isleworth, Twickenham and Hounslow South came together outside the plant in Mogden Lane on April 1 as officers from Hounslow and Richmond councils met with Thames Water inside.

The demonstration was organised with less than 12 hours notice by the Mogden Residents Action Group (MRAG) with the assistance of the Independent Community Group (ICG).

Secretary of MRAG, Steve Taylor, said: "It was a great turnout, especially considering we only announced the protest a few hours before the meeting.

"MRAG's email was inundated with hundreds of messages of support from residents who would have liked to attend but couldn't make it to the Mogden gates due to the short notice."

Richard Aylard, Thames Water's environment and external affairs director at the plant, was greeted with banners reading, "Thames Water Conned LBH's Planning Development Committee, But We're No April Fools".

Despite MRAG's numerous campaigns and protests drawing attention to the terrible stink which is inflicted upon locals, Hounslow's Sustainable Development Committee caved in to pressure from Thames Water and its own planning officers, giving the green light to increase capacity at the controversial plant by over 50 per cent.

Campaigner R.Milligan, from Weavers Close, Isleworth, said: "I live right by the plant and like everybody else find the stench unbearable. I just can't understand how the council agreed to this decision.

"If Mogden can't sustain the stench at the current level then what's it going to be like when capacity is increased?"

ICG organiser and Isleworth ward councillor, Phil Andrews, added: "Isleworth residents are not simply going to stand back and allow their lives to be destroyed by an unholy alliance of greedy bosses, unhelpful officers still serving a past regime and gullible politicians."

Thames Water responds - click on page 2