Controversial gas generation plant given the green light

PLANS to build a 7.5mw gas peaking generation plant on land on Kingdom Avenue in Westbury’s Northacre Industrial Park, have been given the go-ahead by Wiltshire councillors despite strong local opposition.

Councillors voted on the plans at a meeting of the Western Area Planning Committee of Wiltshire Council on 28th September. The plans had previously been opposed by Westbury Town Council and then rejected by Wiltshire Council in March on the grounds that it would exacerbate the already existing poor air quality in the town. 

The main changes of this application from the previous submission include an increased electrical efficiency of the gas engines which the applicant, Eclipse Power Generation Ltd (EPGL), says can lower nitrogen dioxide emissions caused by the plant by 30%. 

These new plans were branded as “almost identical” by Westbury town councillors, who opposed the plans earlier in the year. 

Speaking at the meeting, cllr Suzanne Wickham, who represents Ethandune, the villages surrounding Westbury said, “I have no objection to gas peaking plants in principle – they are a very necessary part of our infrastructure in the generation of power. But to apply for one so close to residential property, with its obvious emissions, is simply wrong and especially the fact that it is Westbury, which already has an air quality management zone there. 

“It will be the residents of Storridge Road, The Ham and Hawkeridge Park who will be breathing in what comes out of this plant, and as I represent Ethandune, I simply cannot vote to approve this application.” 

Bitterly disappointed 

Cllr Matt Dean, who attended the meeting as the representative for Westbury, said in response to the decision, “I’m bitterly disappointed with the result but I do recognise that this doesn’t set any sort of precedent for the proposed incinerator. However, I will be redoubling my efforts in getting Wiltshire Council to take the issue of poor air quality in Westbury seriously.” 

Chairman of the committee, cllr Christopher Newbury said, “Clearly the previous refusal has resulted in the applicant searching for new technology which it is claimed would be 30% less polluting than the previous application.” 

A spokesperson for the applicant said, “This new technology was not present at the time of the previous application, and it would reduce emissions by a third, compared to the previous scheme.” 

Gas-fired peaking plants are power plants designed to balance the fluctuating power requirement in the electricity network and operate during periods of high-level demand or shortfalls for electricity. EPGL claim in their planning statement submitted to Wiltshire Council, that plants like the one proposed will be in demand as the UK shifts to more renewable energy sources, as it addresses the “imbalance and reduces stress on the electricity grid”.