BORIS Johnson is being formally urged to reject plans to build an incinerator on the Sutton/Croydon border.
Solicitors acting for the Stop the Incinerator campaign sent a letter to the mayor on Friday, outlining seven reasons why he should stop the proposals from Viridor to build the waste to energy plant on land off Beddington Lane.
The letter says if he will not reject the scheme outright, Mr Johnson should take on the role of the local planning authority and make a decision himself based on evidence.
The letter urges rejection on the grounds the development would be in Metropolitan Open Land – equivalent to green belt – and fails to comply with local, national and international waste strategies.
It also claims it will cause "increased damaging emissions" in an area acknowledged to have poor air quality.
The mayor is reminded the site was promised for use as country parkland, adding "under this proposal it would be importing waste from four London boroughs and two 95-metre chimneys will cast a shadow over the remaining area of parkland, deterring visitors."
The letter says objectors believe the chimneys breach the London Plan tall buildings policy and that the development will damage wildlife habitats.
Finally the letters say Viridor has failed to consider the use of renewable energy policies.
Paul Pickering, from the Stop the Incinerator Campaign, said: "We need to reuse and recycle our waste, and use alternative technology like anaerobic digestion.
"We hope the mayor will recognise that this is a precious habitat for endangered birds and wildlife."
The Viridor scheme, which will burn 275,000 tonnes of waste annually, was granted planning permission by Sutton Council in May.
Since then, the mayor has received online and paper petitions signed by 1,680 people and more than 2,000 individually signed letters, asking him to overturn the decision.
