People feared they were “being duped” by developers trying to build Weylands Treatment Works.

Dozens turned out last week to see new proposals for the site, but there were concerns about job losses, congestion and the accuracy of an aerial photograph proclaiming to show the site as it is today.

Employees from the skip hire businesses on the current site, who face potentially losing their jobs, said the photograph in fact showed the site four years ago.

A spokesman for Clean Power, the company behind the development plans for an anaerobic waste digestion facility, confirmed the photo was from 2011, highlighting the reality of the regular changes on the site due to its nature.

David Mills, deputy chairman of the Original Poster Company based in Lyon Road, said: "We're being duped."

More than 200 people braved the downpour on Monday, October 13, to take a look at the revised plans for Weylands Treatment Works, Molesey Road, with the majority of people seemingly against the plans, despite the revisions.

Mick Flannigan, of Rydens Road, said: "Many people suggested that the Clean Power waste plans are incompatible with the proposed 'garden village' of Drake Park. At least one of the two projects would surely have to be scrapped.

"You can't build 1,000 new family homes next to a 'stink park', and you can't create a stink park next to 1,000 new family homes."

A spokesman for Clean Power said: "We're just really pleased with how many people have come along tonight.

"We have been asked a lot of questions, we have provided as many answers as we can. We firmly believe that the proposals are an improvement on the last application and the existing operations."

The revisions include a reduction of lorry traffic, the removal of skip hire and the closure of the access by Hersham station.

Removing the skip hire business may appease complainants who believe the noise of skips being transported is disturbing, but could see a loss of jobs for local people.

One worker, who did not wish to be named, spoke of his worries for his livelihood if the application is approved.

The original proposal would have seen up to 494 heavy goods vehicles making trips to the site each day, but this has been reduced in the current proposal to 231-a-day.

John Lisle, of Stoke Road, Walton, said people always complained about traffic in Molesey Road, and said: "They [the lorries] can't get under the bridge."

The previous application saw a campaign group formed that declared Weylands No Way and produced a petition with 2,500 signatures and 700 individual letters of objections.