Agenda item

To receive an update and presentation from Geoff Winslow, Team Leader Minerals and Waste policy.

 

Geoff Winslow, Team Leader Minerals and Waste Policy gave a presentation on the Draft Proposals for Waste Disposal in Wiltshire.  He stated that waste is larger than just a local issue.  Waste should not be seen as a problem but as a resource.

 

The Waste Sites DPD is the final key document in the waste policy framework, which includes:

–     Waste Core Strategy (adopted July 2009)

–     Waste Development Control Policies DPD (adopted Sept 2009)

 

It will ensure future waste development proposals are for the right types of facilities in the right locations.  It allocates a range of sites for a variety of potential uses to ensure waste is driven up the waste hierarchy (reducing dependence on landfill with a greater focus on recycling and composting waste).

 

The sites adopted Waste Local Plan Preferred Areas and sites placed in ‘reserve’ were suggested through, waste management operators, area wide leafleting campaign and the Wiltshire and Swindon Waste Development Forum.

 

Sites were identified through the examination of existing waste facilities and minerals workings sites lists, local plans and key industrial and employment areas.  The purpose of this was to identify sites that warranted detailed appraisal, key land use planning issues and incorporate Sustainability Appraisal. Site appraisal work was undertaken during two periods June 2005 – October 2006, October 2006 – May 2009 (break in preparation) and May 2009 – present.

 

This work includes 43 sites with potential to accommodate:

–     10 household recycling centres

–     35 material recovery facilities/waste transfer stations

–     36 local recycling facilities

–     12 inert waste recycling/transfer facilities

–     7 outdoor composting facilities

–     15 waste treatment facilities

–     2 landfills

–     1 waste water treatment works

 

The 43 waste sites comprise of 14 strategic sites and 29 local sites.  Strategic sites are large and more specialist facilities in terms of scale, amount of waste handled, specialist nature of waste managed and/or wider catchment area served.  Local sites are similar operations undertaken at a smaller more localised scale.  Waste sourced from a limited geographical catchment.

 

The Strategic sites for Westbury are West Wilts Trading Estate, Northacre Trading Estate and Lafarge Cement Works.

 

 West Wilts strategic site potential uses are:

•          Household recycling centre

•          Materials recovery facility/waste transfer station

•          Local recycling

•          Waste treatment

 

Size of site: 68.1 ha

 

Current use: Trading estate

 

Planning context: Allocated employment land. (West Wiltshire District Local Plan)

 

 

Northacre Trading Estate strategic site potential uses are:

•          Materials recovery facility/waste transfer station

•          Local recycling

•          Waste treatment

 

Size of site: 43 ha

 

Current use: Trading estate

 

Planning context: Allocated employment land. (West Wiltshire District Local Plan

 

Lafarge strategic site potential uses are:

•         Materials recovery facility/waste transfer station

•         Local recycling

•         Waste treatment

 

Size of site: 43 ha

 

Current use: Trading estate

 

Planning context: Allocated employment land. (West Wiltshire District Local

Plan).

 

Questions from those present at the meetings included:

 

Why does Westbury have 3 Strategic sites and will all sites be used?

Geoff Winslow explained that the majority of the sites would be used.  If they are

not used, there will be serious government scrutiny.  Waste will be managed and

carried out in a professional manner.

 

Would you clarify energy derived from waste?

Geoff Winslow again reiterated that the chimney would not be used to burn

waste and that any plans would subject to the planning process and the

Environment Agency.

 

Members of the public wished for the Lafarge site to returned to

countryside.  Now that  a decision had been made not to use the site

operationally – how long would residents have to wait for a Lafarge

decision?  Geoff Winslow could not comment on the decision making process

from Lafarge.  Whilst it is not an operational cement working site it still has a

depot there.

 

Issues were raised over the increased volume of traffic that would be

associated with the use of 3 strategic waste sites in the area? Geoff Winslow

was unable to give data on this issue, however he would be able to present

the data that Atkins has produced at a later date.