REVISED plans to build an ‘energy from waste’ incinerator in Westbury have been criticised as being ‘shoddy’, ‘deceitful’ and ‘misleading’ by Westbury councillors.
The revised plans – submitted to Wiltshire Council by Northacre Renewable Energy Limited (NREL) – came under fire at a town council meeting on Monday night. NREL are seeking to build an ‘energy from waste’ incinerator, in a U-turn from the last application, which was for a gasification plant.
Councillors were concerned that the applicant (NREL) was ‘misleading’ people over the application by saying that because planning permission has already been granted for the site, this latest incinerator plan is just an amendment, implying that it is just a formality.
“I see this as shoddy, deceitful behaviour,” said the mayor, cllr Mike Sutton at the remote meeting of the town council’s highways, planning and development committee.
Concerns
The main points of concern for local councillors are increased traffic – through Westbury town centre and outside roads and nearby villages; and possible affects on health now the application has gone back to a conventional waste combustion incinerator.
Councillors said that the previous plans were for a gasification plant which was touted as being a safer option than the traditional ‘energy from waste’ model. Councillors asked ‘Now they’ve gone back to the original system, how can they now say this is safe?’
Councillors had asked Wiltshire Council for guidance, who confirmed that this latest application is a full application, not an amendment.
Wiltshire Council report, “The plans, which would replace the originally approved application, set out NREL’s intention to change the technology from advanced thermal waste treatment gasification to conventional moving grate waste combustion, and will now be subject to the statutory planning process.
“Public consultation for planning applications usually lasts for 21 days; however, given the anticipated interest in this application, people will be able to comment for six weeks, following the application’s initial checking for validity and registration. The application number is 20/06775/WCM, and comments will close on Tuesday 22nd September.”
Special meeting
On Monday, Westbury town councillors agreed to hold a special remote meeting to consider the incinerator application only, and hoped that members of the public would watch the meeting and submit questions. The date of the meeting is to be confirmed.
Councillors agreed to use the time before the planned meeting to study the application and make notes on specific points, although it was pointed out that the document amounts to thousands of pages and the list of accompanying documents alone is 143. Councillors admitted that they may be out of their depth.
Westbury’s MP, Andrew Murrison, has described the incinerator as a “disaster for Westbury.” White Horse News asked the MP for a comment now the plans have been submitted, but he was unavailable at the time of going to press.
Money-saving
The latest plans have also come under fire from local campaign group, WGAG / No Westbury Incinerator Group
A spokesperson told WHN, “The statement by Northacre that the technology has been “updated” is a clear attempt to deceive the public.
“Whilst we vehemently opposed the previous gasification option, this latest proposal, promoted as being an amendment to the existing consent, is nothing more than a low grade money-saving alternative which would never have got any traction whatsoever if it had been proposed from the outset.
“Northacre have failed to highlight this is not a solution to “our household waste”. Some 75% of the waste to be burned will be commercial and business waste emanating from outside our area,” and “The impact upon an already congested A350, through the middle of Westbury, is not being taken seriously.”
Chair of the highways, planning and development committee at Westbury Town Council, cllr Ian Cunningham has explained that the town council will listen to residents’ concerns, but it is Wiltshire Council who will make the decision. He said, “Those wishing to make comments to support or object to the planned incinerator in Westbury need to be aware that the decision will be taken by our local planning authority which is Wiltshire Council and your comments must go there if you want them to be considered.
“We, at Westbury Town Council, are always interested to hear what people in Westbury think about any planning application, but we do not decide whether to grant permission or not – that is the right of the unitary authority, Wiltshire Council.
“Westbury Town Council has a highways, planning and development committee (HP&D) which will consider this application but only in our role as a statutory consultee. This means Wiltshire Council must, by law, ask us for our comments on any local planning application, but it does not mean that they have to agree with us.
“Comments sent to Westbury Town Council will only be seen by Westbury town councillors and, regrettably, they cannot be passed on to Wiltshire Council.
To comment at Wiltshire Council you can do so most easily these days online at developmentmanagement@wiltshire.gov.uk but also via telephone or in writing. To view the plans online click https://unidoc.wiltshire.gov.uk/UniDoc/Document/Search/DSA,913589 and to comment either click the link at the top of this list of documents or go to the planning page (which has advice on how to comment) and search by planning application number for 20/06775/WCM.
“Whilst you can make any legal comment you like (insulting ones may be blocked) it is important to realise that just saying you like or dislike something carries very little weight in planning terms.
“Ideally, you should provide evidence with supporting data, reference to items in the application and/or reference to specific policies that you believe relevant.
“You can find Wiltshire Council’s local planning policies in their “core strategy” (now also called a local plan) which you can see at: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/downloads/15763
“The national planning policy framework (NPPF) www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework–2 and other laws apply to all planning decisions.
“This application (waste) will be heard by the Wiltshire Council’s Strategic Planning Committee. You can find a list of members and their contact details here: https://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=145
“For this incinerator, in addition to normal planning decisions about whether it can be built, it will also need an environmental permit from the Environment Agency (EA). The EA will also be taking comments when such a permit is requested.
“The EA do not get involved in planning decisions and have published this list to explain who decides what:
Permitting – Environment Agency Planning – Wiltshire Council*
Emissions to Air Benefit to the local economy
Pollution to surface and ground water Location
Noise Control Visual Impact
Dust Control Flood Risk
Pest Control Other Environmental Concerns
Fire risk Operating Hours
Odour Control Traffic Management to and from site
*List is not exhaustive
“In the meantime, we are always happy to hear from you at Westbury Town Council you can make email submissions via Info@WestburyTownCouncil.gov.uk or write to us at:
Westbury Town Council, The Laverton, Bratton Road, Westbury. BA13 3EN
“You can also “attend” our (currently) on-line planning meetings or register to speak at them if you have access to a laptop etc.”
