Campaigners have lost their battle to prevent Thames Water expanding the size of Mogden sewage works in Isleworth.
Hounslow Council's sustainable development committee (SDC) gave the green light to a controversial scheme to increase the plant's size by half, on Monday night. All members apart from Syon Councillor Jon Hardy, voted to allow the works to start as soon as possible.
The committee was warned if it did not approve the plans, then it could be overruled by the Mayor of London or the Government, and end up with the expansion going ahead - potentially - without the conditions over controlling odours that the council is calling for.
Chiswick Councillor Felicity Barwood, said: "I think this work really needs to be undertaken if we are to control the odour. It seems the only thing we aren't getting is the East side tanks to be covered.
"But we have enough controls in place to get things sorted if there are problems. I hope this is the final answer to making the odour control work and lessening the sewage going into the Thames."
Thames Water said its plans to increase Mogden's capacity from 690 million to 1,064 million litres per day, will reduce the need to use the storm tanks and prevent untreated sewage from being pumped into the Thames during heavy rainfall.
But The Mogden Residents Action Group (MRAG) who have opposed expansion from the start said: "We are very disappointed with the outcome and the conditions which have been attached to the application.
"We were hoping to reduce odour emission from the plant and limit any future expansion of the catchment area of the plant as well. This is happening at a time when we haven't really seen any positive benefits from the previous £42m works which were intended to deal with the problem of odour."
The works are due to start in September with Thames Water racing to meet their February 2012 deadline set by the Environment agency to improve the quality of the River Thames.
Hounslow South councillor Bradley Fisher, told how he believes it has been the worst year ever in regard to the stink, "I live 500 yards away from the works and believe you me, everybody is talking about it."
However like many of the councillors he begrudgingly voted in favour of the plans with mind to the fact that if SDC members turned it down and Thames Water had appealed, then they would lose influence.
Conditions attached to the plans include a manned 24-hour pong helpline and reducing the number of times the storm tanks, which collect sewage when the works are overwhelmed, from seven to six per year.
"The bottom line is that the increased volume of sewage is going through the plant right now and the current site can't cope," said Brentford Councillor Ruth Cadbury. "It's best that we agree to the plans and keep tight control through the Section 106 agreement and keep on Thames Water's back."
