THE MP for north Swindon, Justin Tomlinson, has announced his opposition to a biomass plant being built in Cheney Manor and said the company’s application was not fit for purpose.

Pure Green – a low-carbon energy and animal bedding company – applied in July for planning permission to set up a biomass plant at the former SquardD factory at Cheney Manor Industrial Estate.

In August, Swindon Council’s planning committee deferred its decision on whether the development should be approved after more than 150 people attended the meeting to protest over the plan.

The committee told the company to hold a number of consultations with the public before the application could go back to councillors.

Last month, Peter Vandeputte, the chief executive of Pure Green, told the Adver a 30-metre high chimney and the production of renewable energy will be removed from the planning application.

But since then an agent working for Pure Green has indicated to the authority that the company will be continuing with its original application.

Mr Tomlinson said: “I would like to register my opposition to this application, both as the MP for North Swindon representing 83,495 residents and as a local resident myself.

“The initial application was nothing short of a disgrace, littered with errors. With this in mind how can we have any faith in this new application, or how they would maintain promised standards or safety levels?”

Coun Des Moffatt, who represents the Rodbourne Cheney ward, said the support from the MP was encouraging.

“We are delighted the MP has been so clear in his opposition to incineration and that he knows the difference between incineration and gasification,” said Coun Moffatt.

“We all agree there is a place for proper biomass and we are really frustrated that the word has been so contaminated by its use here in relation to incineration.”

Mr Vandeputte said: “There is really not much to say except that there are no reasons to be against the project and that we will help the planning officers to organise more public consulting in the coming weeks or months.”

The Environment Agency is hosting a consultation into whether it should grant a licence for the alternative energy plant.

There will be a public meeting in Western Community Centre at 7.30pm on Tuesday.

To have a say on the plan, visit the website http://tinyurl.com/om5thjg