OVER 100 anti-incinerator protestors held a peaceful demonstration outside the Laverton on Tuesday to make their voices heard to the Planning Inspector who is expected to make a final decision on the controversial incinerator plans over the next two weeks.
As the Inspector arrived on Tuesday 22nd November he was greeted with anti-incinerator banners and shouts of “No more incineration!”, and “Westbury says no”.
Among the protestors were Westbury town councillors, local residents and protesters from across the county, all gathered to let the Planning Inspector know what the public opinion is like locally.
Will from Westbury said, “I’m here because of my children. I want them to grow up in a community that has clean air and I don’t think that is too much to ask. It seems to be completely backward to build an incinerator, especially given that so many people have said they do not want this. I hope the Inspector takes the rational view and refuses the plans.”
Mel from Chippenham was at the protest and said, “We only have one planet! This incinerator won’t just affect the health of Westbury residents, but everyone in the county.”
Louise from Bradford-on-Avon said, “The traffic on its own will cause a huge amount of pollution, let alone when the incinerator is belching out toxic fumes. This is not future planning and it will set Westbury back years.”
Westbury town councillor Mark Bailey has helped coordinate the council’s approach to the inquiry. Speaking to the White Horse News, he said, “This is the culmination of a long road that Westbury town council and the people of Westbury have been travelling. From the first plans for a gasification plant in 2018, to the planning application for an incinerator in 2020 and through the various planning appeals, Westbury Town Council has fought this monstrosity all the way, opposing at every opportunity and, alongside local groups, encouraging people to write, march and make their voices heard.
“We have put forward speakers at every appeal, and we are doing so again at the inquiry. We plan to present evidence and opposition in various ways. The council has engaged a legal team and have the services of a barrister, specialising in planning appeal work, to present an overview of our legal case. We have also commissioned an expert in air quality to submit evidence on our behalf.
“Our local councillors will also speak, to give a human voice to our arguments, talking on the topics of local democracy (cllr Mike Sutton), the impact on the landscape and the visual impact of the incinerator (myself) and traffic implications (cllr Jane Russ) as they affect local residents.
“Other councillors will present their personal views and finally our mayor, cllr Sheila Kimmins, will speak from the heart for the town and its future. Councillors will attend and monitor the Inquiry for the whole time it is running, to make sure that the interests of the town are represented. We will put the best case forward and do our best to prevent this unwanted incinerator being built in our town.”
Northacre Renewable Energy Ltd’s (NREL) wants to build the £200million incinerator in Westbury, which will burn waste for energy.
It was granted permission by Wiltshire Council to build a plant using gasification, against the wishes of the town and local area. NREL changed the incinerator to a moving grate design, which was approved by Wiltshire Council in June 2021.
Following the huge protest at the decision, the Secretary of State, Michael Gove MP, was asked to “call in” the application for further scrutiny. However, in March this year, he declined the appeal, saying that decisions such as this should be made locally.
Despite the setback, which was described as a black day for Westbury, the protests continued, led by Westbury Town Council and Westbury protest group WGAG/No Westbury Incinerator. Other towns and parishes in Wiltshire joined the protest to help the town.
In July, a committee of Wiltshire Council considered the plans again, but this time, voted against permission, saying it does not represent sustainable development. However, in a further twist, NREL lodged an appeal, saying that Wiltshire Council had taken too long to make a decision and as a result, a Government inspector was appointed to open this week’s inquiry.
During the sessions, which are spread over two weeks, the inspector will consider all evidence for and against the incinerator. A final decision is expected to be made at the end of the inquiry.
The inquiry will run in two blocks – the first week will take place from Tuesday 22nd to Thursday 24th November and it will reconvene following a week’s break, on Monday 5th December until Thursday 8th December.
