THE local anti-incinerator group, WGAG (Westbury Gasification Action Group) have appealed to extend the period to apply for a Judicial Review against the decision to approve the highly controversial energy-from-waste incinerator.
The group want to extend the period from six weeks to three months to allow them enough time to explore all available options, and they have sent a request to the government’s administrative court – a specialist court within the High Court.
Westbury Town Council, Wiltshire Council, and Arla Foods have all confirmed that they will not go down the route of a Judicial Review.
WGAG say, “Monday 3rd April marks six weeks since Stephen Normington, the planning inspector on this case wrote, ‘There is a clear need for new treatment capacity in the region to divert Wiltshire’s residual waste away from landfill or to avoid this being exported considerable distance’.
“However, there are many complications with such findings and the local communities wish to get to the bottom of all matters relating to this inquiry and the many arguments around it require a further time period before a Judicial Review can fully be ruled out.
“Although we are aware that the time period in planning matters is usually limited to six weeks, our community has been faced with many confusing matters of process leading to the necessity now for additional time.”
The group has been giving a boost in their fight to extend the period to apply for Judicial Review as the local MP, Andrew Murrison, has given his support.
“I strongly support this entirely reasonable request which is the very least my community can expect following the perverse decision by the Planning Inspector in Bristol that ran contrary to the determination by both Wiltshire Council, the local Planning Authority, and Westbury Town Council,” he said.
“Please give it your most sympathetic consideration in the interests of plain justice as my constituents struggle unequally with a large industrial undertaking that is richly resourced and extremely well versed in how to achieve its ends.”
Andrew Murrison has also been lobbying his fellow MPs to impose a moratorium on incinerators in the country to suspend or limit their construction.
Pictured: WGAG members holding a protest at the site of the incinerator when the Planning Inspector undertook a site visit last year.
