London Assembly Member for Hillingdon, Dr Onkar Sahota AM, visited the Lakeside Energy from Waste plant in Slough earlier this month after it emerged that proposals to expand Heathrow could force the plant to move out of the area.
During his visit Dr Sahota heard concerns that 200 local jobs could be lost if the third runway at Heathrow is approved and the Lakeside complex is forced to relocate. Dr Sahota said business like Lakeside, which coverts waste from local boroughs into energy, would not only survive but grow if the focus was on making Heathrow a “better, not bigger, airport”.
The Lakeside Energy from Waste plant converts local residential and commercial waste into energy, making enough power each year to supply 56,000 homes, the equivalent of every home in Slough. The Lakeside complex provides approximately 200 local jobs but there are fears that these could be lost if it is forced to relocate. Meanwhile, figures provided directly to Dr Sahota showed that the cost of replacing the plant would be over £350m.
Local London Assembly Member, Dr Onkar Sahota AM, said:
“The Lakeside Energy from Waste plant provides a hugely important service to Hillingdon and the local area. Not only is the plant a vital part of our local waste infrastructure but the Lakeside complex delivers secure employment for approximately 200 local people and makes a firm contribution to our local economy.
“It’s highly concerning that businesses like this would have to move out of the local area if the government chooses to pursue proposals to build a third runway at Heathrow. What we need is a better, not bigger, airport which won’t only allow local business to survive, but would allow them to grow too. That is what I will be fighting for.”
Dr Onkar Sahota meeting Danny Coulston, Director of Operations at Lakeside Lakeside Energy from Waste
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Notes
- Information provided directly to Dr Onkar Sahota AM from the Lakeside Waste from Energy complex revealed that it provides approximately 200 local jobs, which could be lost if it is forced to relocate.
- Figure provided directly to Dr Onkar Sahota AM from the Lakeside Energy from Waste plant showed that the cost of relocation would be over £350m.
- The Lakeside Energy from Waste plant provides enough power per year to supply some56,000 homes, the equivalent of every home in Slough
- Dr Onkar Sahota is the London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon.
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