FROME Town Council has unanimously agreed to object in response to the Environment Agency’s consultation regarding the proposed Westbury incinerator.
The town council’s “fundamental objection” focuses on the U-turn decision to use traditional ‘energy from waste’ technology, rather than ‘greener’ incinerating technology, as previously proposed by Northacre Renewable Energy (NREL).
“This is not the right technology for a 21st Century waste processing plant,” said cllr Lizzie Boyle at the town council’s planning committee meeting last week.
Cllr Boyle explained that the technology proposed for the incinerator is considered “old” and that the previously proposed gasification plant – which was granted planning permission – is consider the “best available technology”.
The town council also agreed to raise concerns in its objection about noise mitigation, carbon emissions from the proposed incinerator and its impact on air quality and local residents, and the potential for pollutants to find their way into the food chain – cllr Boyle highlighted that the proposed incinerator will be in close proximity to a dairy.
NREL has applied to the Environment Agency for an environmental permit to burn non-hazardous waste – they are also awaiting a decision from Wiltshire Council on its most recent planning application to build the incinerator using ‘energy from waste’ technology.
The closing date for responses to the Environment Agency’s permit consultation was extended last month to Sunday 21st February.
In their planning objection last year, Frome town councillors raised concerns about the additional HGV vehicles moving through Frome 24 hours-a-day and the associated pollution caused; the toxins produced by the incinerator that will drift towards Frome on the prevailing south-west wind; the production of greenhouse gases; and how the incinerator does not sit within the town council’s declared ‘Climate Emergency’.
A decision by Wiltshire Council about NREL’s planning application is expected in the near future.
For more information about the Environment Agency’s consultation, visit the website: https://consult. environment-agency.gov.uk/ psc/ba13-4we-northacre-renewable-energy-limited/
