Council admits error over ‘out of date’ map used in waste plan

Woodmill Road Estate which borders the industrial site. Photograph: Susan Downing

Council officers have apologised after an out-of-date map was used to identify an area in Lower Clapton as potentially suitable for a waste site, causing residents to fear their homes would be turned into a “dustbin”.

Theydon Road is listed as a designated “industrial area” in the North London Waste Plan (NWLP), an initiative by seven north London boroughs proposing locations for waste management facilities.

But residents who live on the neighbouring Woodmill Road Estate launched a petition against the inclusion of the site in the plan, arguing that the area is “densely populated”.

Hackney Council has admitted that the Employment Land Review which informed the designation of Theydon Road as a Priority Employment Area is “out of date” and that the area has changed significantly over the years.

The NLWP and Waste Plan consultants Urban Vision were unaware of the error as no-one had made site visits to the area during the development of the plan.

‘Worrying’

Susan Downing, who set up a petition to campaign against the plans, said that council officers at a meeting had apologised for the mistake.

“While it is good that residents received an apology about the map error, and a promise that the map will be correctly re-drawn urgently, it’s worrying to discover the error was made by our own borough Council.

Downing said that the NLWP indicated that an accurate map of the industrial site may show an area so small that the area would not be worth considering suitable for a waste facility.

Lea Bridge councillor Ian Rathbone said he was glad the council had apologised to residents.”There clearly have been mistakes made here which look like they are now going to be rectified.

“But in any case, as councillors we are opposed to any move which will take away businesses and jobs in the area even in the correctly drawn up PEA. This is not the right area for this.”

Out of date

A spokesman for Hackney Council said: “We would not describe there as being a “gross error” in the assessment process. The Theydon Road area is indeed designated as a Priority Employment Area in Hackney’s Local Plan.

“We acknowledge that the Employment Land Review which informed the designation is now out of date and have begun to review all of our designated employment areas.”

Downing added: “How much greater an error could there be than to take an area containing many homes, local amenities, and local businesses, describe it as industrial ripe for employment opportunities, propose it as suitable for a waste management facility, and then keep local residents oblivious?”

North London Waste Plan Archie Onslow and consultants Urban Vision were approached for comment.

The consultation is still open and comments can be submitted until 30 September. Send feedback via email at feedback@nlwp.net or online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NLWPDraftPlan.