THERE has been an angry reaction locally to the news that plans for the incinerator have been given the green light.
Local councillors have condemned the decision by the Secretary of State to not ‘call in’ the application to build a waste incinerator in Westbury for further review – it was hoped that the planning permission granted by Wiltshire Council last year, would be overturned.
Local MP Andrew Murrison has described the decision as ‘disappointing’ and a ‘bleak day’ for the town; whilst local councillors have vowed to fight on.
Westbury town councillor Jane Russ said, “We are devastated to hear the news about the incinerator but this is not the end of the story. The fight goes on.
“It really is shocking that after all the opposition from local people and local groups, all the letters, that the incinerator has been given the green light. What do you have to do to stop these things?
“But if Michael Gove and Wiltshire Council think we are going to lie down and accept this without a fight, they can think again.
“I think the town council should now go to the solicitors to see what we can do next.
“Thank heavens we had the presence of mind to start a fighting fund to fight for a judicial review.
“We have all the right arguments, and countrywide there is a wave of opposition to incinerators. People realise we have too many of them already; they are not the answer and go completely against all the environmental and ecological arguments. If we are serious about climate change and getting to net zero, we have got to think again. And we should start right now to get this decision reversed. We’ve lost stage one, but this is not the end of the story.”
Westbury town and Wiltshire councillor Matt Dean said, “I am absolutely devastated; I cannot believe after thousands of people have objected and with all the public interest in this, that the Secretary of State hasn’t called it [the application] in.
“It is a black day for Westbury, it’s absolutely terrible. It is so irresponsible that the Secretary of State has done this. Its also incredibly concerning for Arla foods, a large local employer within the town who have said before they may have to close.”
Westbury town and Wiltshire councillor, Gordon King said, “I am shocked and angry about this. So many people have written to the Secretary of State to ‘call in’ the application, and the response is a letter explaining that the Secretary of State believes in local people making local decisions, without really giving a reason why he won’t call it in. That seems very dismissive of people that have written in.
“I hear comments all the time about people losing faith in government and Wiltshire Council, and it is hard to rebuff them when we can’t have faith in a process where these bodies carry on regardless despite what the public ask for.”
Westbury Town Council has also issued a statement. It says, “Westbury Town Council is most disappointed that the Minister of State for Housing, Stuart Andrew MP on behalf of the Secretary of State has chosen not to call in the application from the Northacre Waste Facility to build and run an incinerator within Westbury.
“The letter received from the Planning Casework Unit explains the reason the incinerator application was not called-in by the Secretary of State is because the Government is committed to giving more power to council’s and communities to make their own decisions on planning issues and that planning decisions should be made locally.
“The town council feels that the majority of residents would agree with this view. All of which points to the unitary authority and how seriously they take their statements on the challenge of climate emergency.
“To allow this application to go through is in contravention of the Governments Climate Emergency Policy and Wiltshire Council’s Climate Emergency Policy.
“Westbury and the surrounding villages and towns have come together in opposing this application and all our objections should be taken into consideration. This decision is also surprising as a number of Incinerators across the county are being closed due to being not cost effective or environmentally friendly.
“We are currently in communication with the Environment Agency regarding the application from Northacre Waste Facility for a permit to operate such an incinerator and we will now take advice from the appointed legal team as to what appropriate steps the town council can take.
“It should also be noted that our neighbours in Hampshire have recently successfully refused an application for an incinerator within their county.”
