Local councils stand together in ATT plant protest but more support needed next week

LOCAL town and parish councils have added their objection to the building of an ATT Gasification Waste Treatment facility in Westbury, as proposed by the company NRE Ltd. The objectors say that the waste treatment plant could have far reaching effects on the whole region.

Frome and Westbury town councils, plus four other parishes of Bratton, North Bradley, Dilton Marsh and Heywood, have all added their objections to plans submitted by Northacre Renewable Energy Ltd (a company formed by The Hills Group). 

Westbury objectors, who form the Westbury Gasification Action Group (WGAG) have recently submitted documentation to the Planning Inspectorate of England and Wales in relation to the second ATT gasification plant proposal from NRE Ltd, which was refused by Wiltshire Council last July. The 34-page document firmly opposes the appeal launched by NRE Ltd, shortly before Christmas, on grounds including public health dangers, poor long term waste strategy, visual impact on amenity and the increased load and risk of incidents on our highways if any of the proposed proposals and associated groundworks go ahead.

WGAG member, Dan Gmaj said,  “The submission contains 16 sections covering over 40 areas of concern to our group who painstakingly collated the information on behalf of over 1,000 members of our community who had contacted us directly. A decision from the appeal inquiry for this proposal is not likely until October 2019 however, the pressure is now on, as the third ATT planning proposal comes before Wiltshire Council’s planning committee next week (23rd Jan).”

Fellow WGAG member, Marie Hillcoat added, “We are heartened by the support from town and parish councils around Westbury expressing their united opposition to the ATT plant in ever growing number.”

Margaret Cavanna from the group said, “If you share our concerns and wish to help,  it is essential that a large number of people show the strength of the opposition on the day. Please do all you can to be with us on the steps of County Hall (Trowbridge) for 9.30am on Wednesday 23rd January where we will be demonstrating together for a short period before attending the strategic planning committee’ (SPC) meeting in the public gallery which is scheduled to start at 10.30am.  We can’t do this on our own – we really need you there!  As a final point, our essential crowdfunder.co.uk campaign  ‘No Westbury Incinerator’ is now live!  We are, and will remain a volunteer group but also have costs associated with our continued campaign.  I wish to personally thank everyone for their continued donations.”

For further details email: mailing list request via: westburygag @gmail.com ; Facebook: Westbury Gasification Action Group; Twitter: @WestburyGAG; Hashtag: #Westburygag