A BARNET politician has hailed a major delay in plans to build a waste plant in New Southgate.

North London Waste Authority wants to build a major facility dealing with about 300,000 tonnes of waste at a site in Pinkham Way but the scheme was put on hold by Haringey Council on Monday.

The submission of proposals for the scheme will not now happen until after the issue has been looked at by a planning inspector, which could be as late as April next year.

Barry Rawlings, deputy leader of Barnet Labour Group, said: “I welcome the recent announcements by Enfield and Haringey councils who are taking pause to seriously consider the adverse impact of this waste treatment plant on local people.”

He added: “The Labour team in Barnet will continue to work with local residents to fight this disastrous proposal. I have asked to speak at the public inquiry into the North London Waste Plan to ensure that residents’ views are taken into account.”

Campaigners have protested outside Haringey, Enfield and Barnet Councils in recent months against the idea, arguing that the plant will bring heavy traffic to an already gridlocked A406 and affect air quality.

Pinkham Way Alliance chairman Bidesh Sarkar said: “Thanks to the support of local people we have managed to stop any attempt to even look at these plans before the matter of the North London Waste Plan is properly resolved.

“Pinkham Way should never have been included in any shortlist, let alone chosen for a 300,000 tonne a year waste factory that will be working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“This delay a small victory, but it is important that everyone realises that this is not the end of the story. We fully expect the North London Waste Authority to re-submit its plans, probably next year. When they do, we will be even stronger and we will be ready to fight them.”

Under the current plan, Pinkham Way would deal with waste from seven boroughs across North London, and be home to a fleet of waste trucks from Barnet Council.