Tory U-turn on Westbury incinerator planning application

A previous meeting of Wiltshire Council's Strategic Planning Committee saw a split between the Conservative councillors, who all voted in favour of the incinerator, and opposition ones who all voted against. Since then there's been a lot of lobbying, including from Andrew Murrison MP, so when it went back to committee they voted to defer the application, against the officer recommendation to permit it.

Meanwhile, and unsurprisingly, the Secretary of State said he did not wish to call-in the application.

However the committee may have to find the courage to make a decision eventually. It's scheduled to return by the end of July, but this depends on the government publishing the results of its consultation on the review of National Energy Policy Statements EN-1 and EN-3.

The applicants have the option of appealing on the grounds on non-determination, which would also be a lengthy process but would at least relieve Wiltshire Council of the burden of having to make a decision.

It's interesting that in its press release WC has included a quote from the Cabinet Member for Planning rather than the Committee Chairman. There's not supposed to be any party political predetermination on planning applications. Here's the quote:

Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Planning, said: "We (sic) recognise that the effect of this decision in bringing further uncertainty to the matter of the incinerator will be disappointing for many people, but having taken into account all the relevant new considerations, along with the environmental information previously considered, plus expert planning and legal advice, the committee has decided to defer this application.

"The decision has not been taken lightly, but the committee felt it should take time to fully consider the amount of new information provided and to wait and consider the outcome of the Government's consultation on the review of National Energy Policy Statements EN-1 and EN-3. This consultation closes in May 2022.

"This application will now be considered again by the Strategic Planning Committee by the end of July 2022."

To read the full committee papers, go to: https://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=145&MId=14210