THE decision on controversial revised plans for a new waste incinerator plant in Westbury, which was due last month, has been delayed.
Planning officers are still considering Northacre Renewable Energy Limited’s (NREL) application and loose ends are being tied up, Wiltshire Council say.
A council spokesperson said there was no rescheduled date for the application to be presented to the strategic planning committee – which had originally been due to happen on November 30th.
“When the application is ready for committee, anyone who has expressed an interest will be informed,” the spokesperson added.
Westbury was joined by local towns and parishes in objecting to the plan. At the end of public consultation in September, Wiltshire Council was inundated with over 1,400 letters of representation about the incinerator and a backlog was created in getting the comments online.
Westbury MP Dr. Andrew Murrison chaired an online debate for MPs and their constituents on incineration earlier this week.
The Environment Agency is also currently consulting – until 22nd January 2021 – on its environment permit application for the plant – see story on page 9
The application will consider the impact of the plant on the environment and human health, and also looks at the operators’ competence. If granted, emission limits will be imposed.
Residents are urged to access and comment on the documents online via their Online Consultation Portal, Citizen Space: https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/psc/ba13-4we-northacre-renewable-energy-limited/
Last month, NREL issued a statement saying the revised plant has been designed to updated industrial emissions legislations.The local protest group, WGAG / No Westbury Incinerator Group, has also issued a statement with a rebuttal of the NREL statement. See both statements on pages 8 and 9.
