HIGHLY controversial plans for a £200million waste incinerator has been given permission, following an inquiry by a government-appointed planning inspector.
The decision was made despite a long, hard-fought campaign by local people, Westbury Town Council, 17 other local councils, the local MP and environment and protest groups, who all protested against the plans by Northacre Renewable Energy Ltd (NREL).
Deputy mayor, cllr Mike Sutton, on behalf of Westbury Town Council said, “The decision by the Planning Inspector to allow the appeal and therefore the building of a monstrous incinerator close to hundreds of homes, is very disappointing and a dark day, not only for Westbury, but the whole of west Wiltshire.”
Tragedy for residents
Wiltshire councillor and Westbury town councillor, Mathew Dean said, “I am bitterly disappointed by the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to approve the incinerator application. It is a red-letter day for the town and a tragedy for the residents of Westbury who already suffer from traffic congestion and poor air quality.”
Wiltshire councillor and Westbury town councillor, Gordon King said, “Words cannot describe the depth of my disappointment on hearing this news.”
Wiltshire councillor for Westbury North, Carole King said, “I felt so dispirited when I heard the news about the Inspector’s decision to approve the planning application for the incinerator… Both my heart and my head tell me such an application should not be near our town.”
Sham democracy
Dan Gmaj from the Westbury Gasification Action Group (WGAG) said, “This has simply been a sham representation of local democracy and pathetic example of the right for community say in planning to what has been the biggest opposition to a planning matter ever in Wiltshire’s history.”
Wiltshire Council had never received so many letters, emails and comments of protest as they received against the plans to build a waste incinerator in the town. Westbury and the surrounding towns and villages have been united in their opposition to what they called a “cathedral of waste,” with campaigners taking their banners and protest to County Hall in Trowbridge, signing a petition, protesting with slow walks across the town’s crossings, and displaying anti-incinerator banners and posters throughout the town and in residents’ windows. In preparation for the public inquiry, Westbury Town Council hired a barrister to present their case.
The road to the final decision was a tortuous path. NREL’s application for planning permission to build an advanced thermal treatment plant (known as gasification) in the town, was originally given permission by Wiltshire Council despite local opposition. The company later opted to change to an energy-from-waste facility (using moving grate technology) and Wiltshire Council’s strategic planning committee (SPC) approved the new plans in June 2021.
There followed a huge public outcry, and the then Secretary of State, Michael Gove MP, was asked to “call in” the application for further scrutiny. He turned down the request in March 2022, saying that “decisions should be made locally”. The plans were then brought back to Wiltshire Council to consider in April 2022. At that meeting, Wiltshire Council’s SPC agreed to defer the decision until July 2022, whilst they awaited the Government’s papers on environmental targets. At the July meeting, Wiltshire councillors produced a U-turn and voted eight to one against the plans.
However, in a further twist, NREL lodged an appeal, saying that Wiltshire Council had taken too long to make a decision. As a result, a planning inquiry was arranged, which was held over eight days during November and December last year. At the hearing, a government-appointed planning inspector heard evidence and speakers for and against including members of the town council.
NREL was granted planning permission on appeal, on Tuesday 21st February, along with a string of conditions. They have also been awarded partial costs for “unreasonable conduct during the appeal”.
You can read the costs decision and appeal decision in full by searching APP/Y3940/W/22/3302008 on the Planning Inspectorate website.
Arla Foods (Westbury) Ltd, who operate adjacent to the incinerator site, said they were disappointed by the outcome of the planning inquiry. The company, which employs 250 people and processes around 5% of Britain’s milk into powder and butter, says it will continue to work with NREL “to ensure that any adverse impact on our dairy is minimised or removed completely.”
Local councillors thanked everyone who fought against the plans. Cllr Gordon King said, “Thank you to everyone who contributed to, or spoke out in the fight against this monstrosity, very well done all. Though you might think, like me it was a kick in the teeth, your effort was never in vain. We will not stop here. Our vigilance must be maintained to hold NREL continually to account for all of their impacts.”
