I’ve signed a joint letter with fellow Chippenham Town Councillors* voicing our opposition to the Westbury incinerator, in support of Westbury Town Council. We’ve asked the Secretary of State to overturn the decision made by Wiltshire Council.
The Rt. Hon Robert Jenrick MP
Secretary of State
Ministry for Housing, Communities & Local Government 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Dear Mr Jenrick,
22 July 2021
Westbury Incinerator Planning Application:
Northacre Energy Waste Facility, Stephenson Road, Northacre Trading Estate, Westbury, BA13 4WD Planning application 20/06775/WCM
On 22 June 2021 the Strategic Planning Panel of Wiltshire Council approved the building of a waste incinerator in Westbury. We, the below named cross-party members of Chippenham Town Council, object strongly to this approval on the following grounds:
- Worsening air quality in Westbury, which is already a designated Air Quality Action zone.
- Worsening air quality in Chippenham and other areas of the county due to downwind air.
- Increased CO2 emissions accelerating climate change. This planning approval flies in the face of the
Climate Emergency Commitments of the Government, Wiltshire Council and Westbury Town Council.
- Increased traffic from HGVs taking refuse to the site, adding to the already serious congestion
throughout the town and neighbouring villages.
- The loss of at least 250 jobs if dairy production at the nearby diary factory were to stop as a result of
the incinerator’s operation. This does not include other businesses that support dairy production both
locally and across the Southwest.
- Substantial increases in noise and odour.
- The scale of the plant, which is far too large for this site.
You will need no reminder that the Government has committed to reducing carbon emissions. Wiltshire Council and Westbury Town Council have also declared climate emergencies and pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030. However, the levels of CO2 that would be emitted from this facility, and the associated increase in traffic, are incompatible with those ambitions and allowing this facility to go ahead will be seen as a Government failure at COP26.
I hope you will take these points into consideration and reverse the planning decision made by Wiltshire Council.
Yours sincerely,
Cllr Liz Alstrom, Wiltshire Councillor and Chippenham Town Councillor (Hardens & Central) Cllr Declan Baseley, Chippenham Town Councillor (Pewsham)
Cllr James Bradbury, Chippenham Town Councillor (Cepen Park & Derriads)
Cllr Clare Cape, Wiltshire Councillor and Chippenham Town Councillor (Pewsham)Cllr Peter Cousins, Chippenham Town Councillor (Hardenhuish)
Cllr Bill Douglas, Chippenham Town Councillor (Hardens & Central)
Cllr Gemma Grimes, Chippenham Town Councillor (Monkton)
Cllr Angie Litvak-Watson, Chippenham Town Councillor (Monkton)
Cllr Kathryn MacDermid, Wiltshire Councillor and Chippenham Town Councillor (Hardenhuish) Cllr Nick Murry, Wiltshire Councillor and Chippenham Town Councillor (Monkton)
Cllr Andy Phillips, Chippenham Town Councillor (Sheldon)
Cllr Nina Phillips, Chippenham Town Councillor (Sheldon)
Cllr Nic Puntis, Wiltshire Councillor and Chippenham Town Councillor (Cepen Park & Derriads) Cllr Chris Ruck, Chippenham Town Councillor (Cepen Park & Hunters Moon)
Cllr Matthew Short, Chippenham Town Councillor (Hardens & Central)
Cllr Myla Watts, Chippenham Town Councillor (Cepen Park & Hunters Moon)
Cllr Hayley Wilson, Chippenham Town Councillor (Cepen Park & Derriads)*This is not the official view of Chippenham Town Council as the issue has not been debated in council. It is the view of the individual signatories of the letter.