Westbury incinerator : Company applies for new operating licence
By Susie Watkins
8th Jan 2021 | Local News
The company behind plans to expand the Westbury incinerator has applied to the Environment Agency for an environmental permit so it can burn non-hazardous waste.
. Back in September Frome Town Council's planning committee strongly objected to the Westbury incinerator expansion plans- due to pollutions concerns and the impact for traffic in Frome. On the Wiltshire planning site there were over 1,000 objections from residents opposing the application made by Northacre Energy for the waste facility on Stephenson Road in Westbury and scores of local councils have also stated they are opposed. The plans to extend at the plant (at postcode BA13 4WD) were also being opposed by local councillors. Tom Bazan of Trowbridge Town Council wrote at the time: "Permission was originally granted in 2015 for an incinerator to be built on the site, it was amended in 2018 and refused permission after a long campaign from residents in the local area. "In 2019 Wiltshire Council granted permission. Now in 2020 the company, Northacre Renewable Energy Limited, are seeking to change the technology and increase by 50% the waste tonnage they wish to bring to the plant to burn. Critics claim this means: - 240,000 tons of waste annually coming from up to two hours' drive away- 75% of the waste will be commercial and industrial in origin
- 20,000 separate journeys by HGVs to and from the siteWiltshire household waste - our black bins - will go to the site if built
- A stack of 75 metres with a plume that can be blown up to 10km. The implications for this level of road haulage on roads has not been fully realised, both in terms of traffic pollution levels and effect on residents of the town." His views were backed by the Conservative group leader councillor Antonio Piazza. His view: " One of our General Election manifesto pledges in this area was for better air quality and I think we need to stand by that. "We'll be joining Warminster, Bradford on Avon and Frome Town Councils along with Southwick, North Bradley, Chapmanslade, Bratton, Heywood and Dilton Marsh Parish Councils and expressing our objection to this. "Air pollution is the biggest risk to human health in the UK. It can increase the risk of cancer, respiratory diseases and heart diseases.It's extremely important that we get this right. I personally cannot standby and not express my disapproval of this plan. Please make your views known to Wiltshire Council so that this application can be refused.
"The best thing residents can do is object object object."
In its latest comment on the issue Trowbridge council told Nub News: "Trowbridge Town Council is concerned that this Incinerator will have an adverse effect on the air quality in Trowbridge due to both direct pollution, generated by the incinerator's operation and pollution created by the vehicles coming through Trowbridge to deliver waste to the incinerator."
You can have your say on the latest application by clicking HERE : the Environment Agency site The deadline for comments is February 21.
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