Members of the Westbury Gasification Action Group have been given new hope in their opposition to plans for a new waste plant in the town.
The group is studying documents recently submitted to Wiltshire Council by North-acre Renewable Energy (Hills) for two sites next to the current MBT recycling plant.
An amended planning application for the ATT Gasification Plant (incinerator) reference number 18/03816 can be viewed on the Wiltshire Council website, with comments to be submitted by 25th May.
In addition, a waste sorting station, workshop and offices on adjoining Brook Farm land, purchased by the company, is detailed in application 18/03366 requiring comments by 31st May.
An agent’s letter accompanying the amended application states, “The changes would usually be made through an amendment to the original planning permission. NRE had been proposing to seek a variation of the existing permission (a Section 73 application) which would have been more limited in its accompanying information. Following engagement with the public, discussions with the local planning authority and noting the level of interest in the changes to the approved ATT facility, they have opted to prepare a full application.”
Action group member, Margaret Cavanna said, “This is good news, and what we have been pressing for through the petition and various council meetings.
“It also indicates that some Westbury and Wiltshire councillors are speaking up on this, recognising the significant public health and environmental protection issues raised by siting these developments within a densely-populated town.
“It appears that we can comment on all aspects of the plans, and not just the variations to the existing plans. Whilst there are lots of documents to go through to prepare relevant objections, this is a great opportunity to make our concerns known formally within the planning process. We now hope that hundreds of others who live, work or drive through Westbury will do the same!”
Fellow action group member, Simon Taylor, said, “Although Hills claim the new sorting station will reduce the number of lorries through Westbury, there will still be 130,000 tons of waste coming to the incinerator from outside Wiltshire. That’s over 6,000 truck journeys.”
Another member of the group, Marie Hillcoat, said she was concerned that the height of the unit buildings was set to double, as well as the height of the chimney stack increasing. She said this would create a massive structure, visible from miles around.
People can make contact with the Westbury Gasification Action Group on facebook.
