CAMPAIGNERS say they are "disappointed" the Mayor of London has given the go ahead to Barnet Council’s plans to relocate its depot to New Southgate.

Boris Johnson will not use his planning powers to intervene in the development at the Abbots Depot site in Oakleigh Road South, which cost the council £13.5m.

The new depot will include parking for rubbish trucks, a bulking facility for food waste and a fuel station.

But people living nearby fear it will create noise, traffic congestion and pollution, although the council disputes this.

The authority has also bought the lease for the neighbouring Winters site, which it says will reduce traffic in the area.

More than 1,500 people have signed a petition opposing the plans, which was presented to Labour GLA member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore last week by the Residents Against Abbots Depot (RAAD) group.

Waltraud Winkler, of Stewards Holt Walk, said: "RAAD members feel very disappointed and let down but we fight on and say no."

Kanu Dave, of Coppies Grove, New Southgate, said: “People feel helpless against such a powerful institute. We did whatever we could, but our pockets are not deep. The residents living next door to it are all annoyed.”

Mr Dismore said it was “disastrous news”.

He said: “Boris Johnson has ignored all the objections submitted to the council and to himself. He has ignored the petition signed by over 1,500 residents.

“He couldn’t even be bothered to make the decision himself, delegating it to his chief of staff. The Mayor has said he won’t intervene - and Barnet can take whatever decisions it wants for itself.

“This is disastrous news for the local residents, whom Barnet thinks it can ignore. They face years of more heavy lorries, more pollution, more noise, more bad smells, more intrusive light, more pest infestations and more risks to road safety.”

The council is due to move from its current depot in Mill Hill East next year to make way for housing, for which it will pocket £40million.

A spokesman for the Mayor of London said: “Every application received by the Mayor’s office is thoroughly assessed and all comments from residents and interested parties are taken into account when reaching a decision.

“In this case, all comments submitted both to the council and to the Mayor directly formed part of the decision-making process, while planning officers from City Hall also met with the London Assembly member for Barnet to understand local concerns.

“Development of this existing waste and industrial site as a council depot will enable the regeneration of the Mill Hill area and the Mayor is satisfied that issues regarding noise, design and air quality have been suitably addressed.”

In September, Conservative deputy leader of Barnet council Councillor Dan Thomas said: “We need a new base for our collection vehicles and bulking operations and this site came out as the best option based on operational, financial, planning and risk factors.”