Go-ahead for anaerobic digestion plans
Approval has been granted
Plans to build a £25 million anaerobic digestion facility at Royal Wootton Bassett have been approved – despite fears that it could turn the site into “a compost bin for the southwest.”
Eco Sustainable Solutions wants to build the £25 million anaerobic digester at Park Grounds, Royal Wootton Bassett – a site already designated for waste disposal.
At a meeting of Wiltshire Council’s strategic planning committee on Tuesday, June 16 Alan Hannify, on behalf of the applicant, told members that the facility would “provide a local source of renewable energy from locally-sourced food waste,” serving “Swindon, Wiltshire, and further afield.”
He said the plant would “produce bio gas that will be exported from the site to the gas distribution network,” and a “biomethane refuelling station (that) will help to decarbonise the fleet of waste vehicles importing waste to the facility.”
As a by-product, liquid fertiliser called digestate would be produced, “which will be exported to local farms to replace fossil fuel-derived fertiliser products.”
However, ward councillor Elizabeth Threlfall (Brinkworth, Conservative) said there was already an anaerobic digestion facility at nearby Charlton, with plans to build another in Ashton Keynes, eight miles away.
“There seems a risk that this area will become a compost bin for the southwest with spare capacity drawing in more and more HGVs from further afield,” she said.
She also asked for local concerns about odour to be taken into consideration.
“Residents close to this site have had to endure sulphurous odour emanating from the landfill for many years, and inevitably they are concerned that this proposal will only increase the problem,” she said.
The committee also heard a statement from Cllr Lianna Konig (Royal Wootton Bassett North, Liberal Democrats) who had requested scrutiny by councillors, rather than a decision by planning officers.
“This is not an objection to anaerobic digestion, renewable energy or finding better ways to deal with food waste,” she said. “Those are worthwhile objectives.
“My concern is whether this particular proposal in this particular location has the right balance between benefits and impacts.
“This is not a small agricultural diversification project. It is a substantial waste processing facility with associated infrastructure, vehicle movements and activity that will present day after day, year after year.”
Members of the committee asked questions about lorry movements – which they were told would be around 42 to 52 per day – and mitigation against the risks of odour, noise, and visual impact.
Ultimately, the 11 members voted unanimously to support the application.
Construction is expected to start in the new year.