LOCAL MP, Dr Andrew Murrison, has called on the Prime Minister for a moratorium on waste incinerators. It comes as Westbury prepares this month for an inquiry to be held over the planned waste incinerator to be built in the town.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions last month, Andrew Murrison asked the newly-appointed Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, “One of the burning questions in my constituency is the proposed waste incinerator at Westbury. With the government rightly reviewing its air quality targets, can I ask my Right Honourable Friend to signal his intent to continue promoting public health net zero and the environment by placing a moratorium on any more unwanted unnecessary toxic waste burners?”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, “I can tell my Honourable Friend I know who’s been a vociferous campaigner on this issue as I learnt in the summer, that he’ll know local authorities determine these issues but also to reassure him that all large incinerators in England must comply with strict emission limits and only receive permit if plants do not cause damage to human health and hopefully that is reassuring for him.”
An inquiry to decide the fate of the controversial proposed incinerator for Westbury is taking place at The Laverton in Westbury on Tuesday 22nd November, with a protest by campaigners planned to coincide with this.
The inquiry at The Laverton will run in two blocks – from the 22nd to 24th November, then a week’s break, then back in from 5th to 8th December. The public are invited to attend all sessions and will have an opportunity to speak on the afternoon of November 22nd and again on December 7th. If you wish to attend the enquiry and also if you wish to speak, you need to register in advance as spaces will be limited. If you wish to attend the inquiry virtually, you also need to register. Full details of how to register are available on the town council’s website: www.westburytowncouncil.gov.uk/dept/incinerator/
The inquiry will also be live streamed so that people who cannot attend in person can follow proceedings.
