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Westbury didn’t lose one smoke stack only to get another says MP
(September 12, 2020)The burning issue in Wesbury is heating up as a decision deadline rapidly approaches with the local MP Dr. Andrew Murrison strongly speaking out again against the proposals by Northacre Renewable Energy and Hills Waste to change their gasification plant plans.
Their new approach to planning councillors at county hall switches to an outdated type of incinerator taking more waste, belching more carbon and particulates and increasing heavy traffic through the town.
“Westbury didn’t lose the cement works chimney only to have another old style industrial smoke stack imposed on it,” said Andrew on Friday.
He is urging his constituents to comment online or write (to County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8JN or by email using the planning application number 20/06775/WCM.
“Wiltshire declared a climate emergency last year and its clear the revised plans would be a step back even from the unwelcome gasification proposals already approved,” added Andrew.
“There is sufficient capacity within reasonable distance for disposing any waste that the operator believes can’t be recycled. In any event, throwing up more incinerators has a chilling effect on waste reduction and recycling.
“It’s a big no to this latest attempt by NRE and I urge people to write to the planning authority, Wiltshire Council, to object.”
Andrew is also concerned about the scale of the planned incinerator. It would make Westbury a regional hub with around 200 HGVs per day driving through to feed burners emitting greenhouse gases 24/7 for 25 years.
The medic MP has worries about very fine particles generated by incinerators which some experts believe may have health consequences and to which he believes the precautionary principle should be applied.
Andrew is joined by a coalition of councillors and local residents, who all believe this project should be binned. Many have already submitted comments on the planning website.
The new plans for the site on the edge of town have so far received a huge postbag of 161 letters and representations from several local councils since they first appeared four weeks ago.
The closing date for objecting is Tuesday 22nd September. Planning officers will then produce a report on Northacre Renewable Energy’s revised proposals for councillors to consider and vote on.
The decision is expected to be made in November.