CAMPAIGNERS clashed with Hills Waste representatives about the impact of the Lower Compton recycling facility and its potential extension as the public inquiry resumed.

Following a five months adjournment for Hills Waste to compile an adequate environmental impact assessment, Inspector Brian Sims reopened the case in Trowbridge on Tuesday morning where Hills Waste Solutions and Wiltshire Waste Alliance agreed there were no common grounds and outlined their main points in their opening statements.

Addressing the dozens of concerns from Compton Bassett, Calne and Blacklands residents at meeting, who lined the streets near the facility during the site visit on Monday, he said: "I undertook a site visit yesterday as I had looked at everything but the site itself. I was also able to familiarise myself with the considerable local interest and people's concerns about the application and I have noted these concerns. This is an unusual case and it is so unusual in that the fall back positions are so critical."

The opening statement made by Paul Tucker on behalf of Hills Waste, argued that the appeal should not have been refused by Wiltshire Council and that their environmental impact assessment, which looks at air quality, traffic control and sustainability, was adequate. He also warned about the lack of Wiltshire Council's contingency plan.

He said: "The elephant in the room is that should this appeal be dismissed by the Inspectorate, Wiltshire will not have the correct facilities to deal with comingle waste."

This warning, called a "doomsday scenario" by Alan Potter representing Wiltshire Waste Alliance, was condemned alongside their "inadequate" environmental assessment, which the group intend to analyse during cross examination.

A number of councillors, residents and campaigners also had the opportunity to speak at the opening day of the inquiry with many deploring the 'illegal' operations at the temporary site which has been in operation since the 1990s.

Speaking on behalf of Compton Bassett Parish Council, Counc Pete Szczesiak said: "Lower Compton has never been designated as a site for a permanent MRF in Wiltshires Waste Core Strategy and Hills faithfully promised the local parish councils at the time that the facility would be returned to pasture land in 2016.

"We have learnt over the years that Hills do not necessarily abide by planning permission conditions. In addition to taking waste from outside of Wiltshire, Hills also carry out waste transfer operations for Municipal Solid Waste, for which they have never had any planning permission and still don't to this day."

Calne Without Parish Councillor Kate Morley added: "Knowing and permanently consenting a facility that will at the very lease perpetuate a proven air pollution problem is neither responsible nor right. Please don't let the burden of waste be Calne's future forever."

The inquiry, which is open to the public, will last approximately two weeks at the Trowbridge Civic Centre from 9.30am-5.30pm.