Teather Calls For Action On Neasden Goods Depot

12.37.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 15th Oct 2004

Sarah Teather is calling for action to tackle the pollution from Neasden Goods Depot

Local Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather yesterday chaired an hour long meeting between the Environment Agency chiefs and Brent Council's Environmental Health service regarding Neasden Goods Depot, Neasden Lane. The Local MP's mailbag is flooded with complaints from Neasden residents about the dust pollution from the depot.

The Brent East MP called the meeting in frustration at the lack of action to tackle the problem. According to recent monitoring by the Council, dust pollution from the site is regularly 14 times over the Government's recommended levels. An enforcement action taken out by the

Environment Agency in early 2001 on one of the contractors on the site has taken a shocking three and a half years to come to Court -- and will only do so in December this year. Meanwhile local residents have to endure the ongoing pollution problems.

At the meeting the local MP demanded that a combined action plan to tackle the problem be produced by both the Environment Agency and Brent Council within fourteen days. The Environment Agency was also strongly rebuked by the Brent East MP for not taking more active steps to tackle the problem sooner.

Local Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather said:

"This problem has blighted the lives of residents for over ten years. It is time action was taken once and for all to solve it. You only have to walk up Neasden Lane to see the problems the site causes, the roads and houses are covered in dust, imagine what this is doing to people's lungs! I have had a number of parents tell me of their concerns about their children's breathing difficulties.

"I am particularly disgusted that it has taken the Environment Agency a shocking three and a half years to bring one of the worst offending contractors to Court.

"I have asked the Environment Agency and Brent Council to form a joint action plan to tackle this problem within fourteen days. I believe that the Environment Agency and Brent Council must work together to solve this issue. We cannot allow such levels of dust pollution in our local community.

"If I do not see action or results I will have no hesitation in raising these issues in Parliament and with Ministers. This issue will not go away unless we get the Council and the Environment Agency working side by side to address these issues."