MP requests Secretary of State has final say on incinerator

Local MP, Andrew Murrison, has today (15th June) written to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to request that the Secretary of State makes the final decision about Northacre Renewable Energy Ltd’s (NREL) proposed incinerator in Westbury.

The MP has made the request as documents – published in advance of next week’s Wiltshire Council meeting on 22nd June – recommend that the controversial waste incinerator be given planning permission, subject to a number of conditions.

However, if Wiltshire Council does give its approval to the plans, planning permission will not be issued until after the Secretary of State has decided whether the application should be ‘called-in’ for his determination.

The local MP said, “As an infrastructure proposal of national significance, the Secretary of State can exercise his prerogative to decide whether permission is granted.

“In my view another carbon belching incinerator would be contrary to the Government’s intentions on climate change, the environment and waste – particularly important in this COP26 year.

“High quality employer Arla doesn’t want an incinerator next door. I don’t want a trademark Westbury company deciding to quit because of a threat to the integrity of its dairy products from pollutants.”