Waste plant plans are ‘disgusting’
6:00pm Saturday 11th February 2012 in News
Westbury mayor David Windess
Westbury faces the possibility of having four waste treatment and disposal plants on its outskirts, after a development plan was approved by Wiltshire Council.
Three sites are identified in the plan – at West Wilts Trading Estate, the Northacre Trading Estate and the former Lafarge cement works – in addition to a £20 million waste treatment plant already being built.
The council plan, which identifies 35 “preferred sites” for development across Wiltshire and Swindon, is intended to cope with an increase in waste up to 2026.
Councillors approved the draft Development Plan Document on Tuesday, which will be sent off for consideration by a Government planning inspector.
Mayor David Windess said: “I can see the sense in having new waste sites, but to have three of them all around Westbury is disgusting. One would be fine, two would be pushing it, since there is already one waste plant in the town and no household recycling centre, something local people actually want.
“It is only a plan at the moment, of course, but, as usual, it seems the council regards Westbury as the dumping ground of Wiltshire. I’m not happy about it.”
A report presented to the cabinet meeting last month stated: “The location of three strategic sites in the Westbury community area was questioned as being disproportionate with the rest of Wiltshire and Swindon.
“The proposals in the Westbury area are still considered to offer the best potential for future waste management development and appropriately located in terms of the local highway network.”
It continued: “Over 100 potential waste sites have been appraised since 2005 and the remaining sites are those which are considered to be the best and most deliverable.”
If the Government’s inspector, in evaluating the 1,200 comments received during the consultation stage last year, sanction the planning strategy, the council will adopt it November.
