Three North London MPs have combined forces to help residents defeat plans to build a waste treatment plant at Pinkham Way.

Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey and Wood Green), Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) and David Burrowes (Enfield Southgate) met last week to discuss the plans, which they say would fundamentally change the nature of the area.

The North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has submitted plans to Haringey Council to build a massive waste treatment factory on woodland adjacent to the North Circular Road’s junction with Colney Hatch Lane. Included in the plan is the relocation of Barnet Council’s vehicle depot onto the site, which is in the borough of Haringey.

The plant would treat 300,000 tonnes of black bin waste from at least four London boroughs and the site would generate more than 1,100 vehicle journeys a day through one of the busiest junctions in London.

Residents are concerned about the overall effects of introducing an enormous factory into their community, and especially about the effects of the traffic fumes, the noise and the smells from the factory, which will be working 24 hours a day.

Local parents are particularly worried about the health of their children, especially those with respiratory problems such as asthma.

Ms Featherstone MP, whose Hornsey and Wood Green constituency includes Pinkham Way where the plant is planned, said:

‘I know how worried local residents are about the plans. I think it’s fantastic that we have come together, MPs and residents, from different parties and from different walks of life, to fight the waste plant the NLWA is planning to shoehorn into our local community. Together we will be stronger.’

Ms Villiers MP, whose Chipping Barnet constituency includes the access roads to the proposed site, said:

‘I remain convinced that Pinkham Wood is simply the wrong location for a waste disposal plant. A major worry is the potential impact of hundreds of extra lorry journeys into and out of the site each day at an already congested section of the North Circular. I am also concerned about worsening air quality as a result.

‘I am campaigning alongside my constituents against the plans and would encourage them to make their views known to Haringey Planning Department, when the plans are made available for comment.”

Mr Burrowes, whose Enfield Southgate constituency is adjacent to the site, said:

‘This is the first time MPs have come together across the three constituencies to campaign on an issue. This cross-party unity of purpose, to stop the Pinkham Way plans, is an exceptional demonstration of the widespread opposition to the proposal. The primary issue of the impact on the local environment – air quality and traffic – is rightly a matter of huge importance for all of our constituents.’

Local people have formed the Pinkham Way Alliance to focus their opposition to the plans and ensure that their voices are heard.

Speaking on behalf of the Alliance, local resident Colin Parish said:

‘The fact that our MPs have got together to fight these plans is further evidence of just how inappropriate they are. We are now calling on councillors in the three boroughs to unite to throw out these plans and come up with something more acceptable.

‘You can’t put a massive waste factory in the middle of a community – the nearest flat is just 85 metres from the site, the nearest primary school is only 308 metres away. It would be madness to go ahead with this scheme and we hope our MPs will be able to influence the outcome and help the NLWA to find a more suitable venue.’