Horn Lane Cement Plant Given Planning Permission
Virtual meeting approves controversial relocation to Acton Goods Yard
Acton Goods Yard. Picture: David Hawgood
A proposal to relocate a cement batching plant from Park Royal to Acton Goods Yard on Horn Lane has been approved by Ealing Council.
Permission was granted at a virtual meeting of Ealing’s planning committee which was held on 20 May. The vote was 10-3 in favour with Labour councillors voting to pass and opposition councillors voting against.
Libby Kemp and Vlod Barchuk spoke against the proposal via video link and behalf of residents opposed to the plan.
One local resident commented after the decision, “Given the great improvements in Horn Lane pollution (worst in London at one point) seems extraordinary a Labour administration with flagship policies of promoting cycling/walking and reducing pollution would fast forward an application for a cement plant & parking for 21 cars. In the middle of a residential area.”
Ready mix concrete supplier Quattro has been asked to relocate from its existing facility on Victoria Road as the site is needed for HS2. They want to build cement storage facilities, a workshop and office facilities at the site near Acton Mainline station which would continue to allow their product to be distributed by rail.
The firm employs around 60 people in the Acton area and, in an Air Quality Assessment submitted with the application, claims that the new plant would not add significantly to air pollution in the surrounding area. It is accepted that dust from the site will have an impact on the local area but it is argued that, as there are similar facilities already in the same yard, the marginal impact will be limited.
The application attracted over 100 objections from local residents. Most raised the issue of air quality and how the plan would make the situation even worse, particularly on Horn Lane. This area already exceeds the EU limits for nitrogen dioxide, PM10 and PM2.5. Some objectors also point out that the Air Quality Assessment does not take account of the extra lorry traffic that will be generated in the area and there are concerns that lorries will use Noel Road as a way of avoiding congestion around Gypsy Corner. In the application it was stated that the site could generate 154 HGV movements a day but objectors believe this could actually be over 400.
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May 21, 2020