The next Frome Town Council planning committee will be looking at controversial plans to increase the capacity at an incinerator plant in Westbury.

Councillors will be considering the application made for a plant at the Northacre trading estate - and the implications of a knock on impact for traffic in Frome.

On the Wiltshire planning site there are over 160 letters from residents opposing the application made by Northacre Energy for the waste facility on Stephenson Road in Westbury.

Plans to build at the plant (at postcode BA13 4WD) are also being opposed by local councillors.

Tom Bazan of Trowbridge Town Council has written: "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.

In effect 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 site

Wiltshire 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 have been 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."

The full application can be seen HERE: the Wiltshire planning site

Residents have until the 22nd September to object through emailing [email protected].

In Frome you can register in advance to attend the planning meeting via Zoom which is at 7pm on Thursday, 17 September by clicking HERE: the Frome Town Council site