WILTSHIRE Council has told campaigners that concern over potential impact on health of the local population from the proposed waste treatment plant, is the responsibility of the Environment Agency, as the council deals with planning alone. However, objectors say neither Wiltshire Council nor the Environment Agency will accept responsibility.
Local campaigners have expressed their concern about safety and health of local people if the advanced thermal treatment plant goes ahead and say they have little faith in either Wiltshire Council or the Environment Agency taking responsibility for ensuring the health of local people is protected.
The story took a turn recently after another fire at the mechanical and biological treatment (MBT) plant run by Hills who will also be operating the new waste treatment plant. The fire has caused concern amongst residents, and questions are being asked about whether Hills can trusted to run the plant safely.
This is one of several fires at the recycling facility since its opening in 2014 claimed local residents. Campaigner David Levy said during this month’s area board meeting, “The reports of the recent fire from Hills and the Fire Brigade are completely different. The company of Hills said there was only a little smoke, no fire. The Fire Brigade said there was a massive fire! My question is, whether you as a council can actually endorse this company to go forward with another operation, which is even more dangerous for the health of people in this area? Do you trust Hills?”
A town council meeting to discuss public concern, held in February at the Laverton, drew over 100 people.
During the Westbury Area Board meeting on Thursday 12th April, discussion was held about Wiltshire Council’s written response to campaigners regarding the proposed advanced thermal treatment facility. Wiltshire Council says its responsibility is the planning process only, and a health impact assessment is not part of the council’s remit. But campaigners say that whether the plant is a health risk or not should surely be part of the planning process.
In the letter sent to campaigner Maggy Daniell of Westbury’s Gasification Action Group, Libby Johnstone, Wiltshire Council’s senior democratic services officer said, “Health impact assessments are not a statutory requirement of the planning consultation process, and in this case will be addressed as part of another regulatory regime which controls certain activities which could harm the environment or human health. In addition to the planning permission a separate permit from the Environment Agency (EA) is required under the environmental permitting regime.”
As several people raised questions about the waste treatment plant, cllr Russell Hawker who chaired the meeting said, “We have had a long meeting about this application, and no doubt there will be more in the future, but right now we are only really dealing with this letter.”
However Stephen Eades of Friends of the Earth said, “The fact that is evident this evening is that everyone is concerned about potential adverse health impact and how this is correctly addressed and not avoided.
“At the moment we have a situation where Wiltshire Council is saying the stuff that is coming out of the chimney is not their responsibility, that is the responsibility of the Environment Agency and so when it considers a planning application you cannot consider this.
“However, when you go to the Environment Agency and they say ‘they consider what is coming out of the chimney but they can’t stop it because it has planning permission, all we can do is regulate it’ – so we have a catch-22 situation where no side can resolve this matter as to how health is properly protected!”
