Ealing Council has rejected a proposal for a £40 million biofuel power station to be built on the site of the old gasworks in The Straight in Southall.

The councils planning committee advised against approving the ‘eco-friendly’ power station to the delight of people in the packed public gallery.

Brighton based energy firm, Blue-NG, was behind the proposed eco-friendly power station, which would have burnt biofuels, such as virgin vegetable oil.

The proposal was opposed by residents and environmental groups who claimed that it would further worsen the local air quality.

They also claimed that this would require more than 16,000 acres of much needed cropland and that our demand for biofuels is already unsustainable.

Although Ealing Council has rejected the proposal, the final decision on the scheme rests with the Greater London Assembly.

Blue-NG already has permission for a plant in Beckton in east London.