LAFARGE says they are continuing to consider all future options for the former cement manufacturing areas of the Westbury site.
The site is listed as a possible “strategic” site for large and more specialist waste facilities, to deal with larger quantities of waste from a wider catchment area. However, a statement from Lafarge says, “We are continuing to consider all future options for the former cement manufacturing areas of the Westbury site. Part of the site remains in active use as an important distribution centre for our products and we remain focused on safety and overall site security. We will keep all local interested parties updated on the status of the site.” Manufacturing operations on the site ceased over three years ago, when the site’s cement manufacturing operations were mothballed in February 2009. In June 2010 Lafarge announced that they were ending manufacturing capability at the Westbury works, citing a deterioration in the market. It stated that it would be decommissioning the two kilns and therefore ending the site’s clinker manufacturing capability, but no timescale was set. Part of the site remains in operation as a distribution centre. An application for a certificate of lawfulness for continuation of cement milling, blending, packing and distribution was submitted to Wiltshire Council in July 2010. Following further legal submissions by Lafarge a few weeks ago, the application is still under consideration. The decision on this application will inform the next stage of discussions on matters such as the decommissioning of the cement kilns, chimney, and other buildings, as well as the restoration of the chalk and clay quarries. Officers from Wiltshire Council have regular meetings in relation to the site, and have recently met with Lafarge’s consultants, but the White Horse News was told that discussions cannot be made public because of commercial confidentiality. The council’s draft Wiltshire Core Strategy identifies the need to address the future of the former cement works site, but the future of the site needs to be resolved in planning terms before any proposals can be considered.
