The Mayor of Westbury has called for a protest against plans to build a controversial incinerator in the town.

The peaceful protest will be held outside The Laverton on Bratton Road in Westbury on Tuesday November 22, when it will be decided whether the waste incinerator can be built by a government inspector.

Mayor Sheila Kimmins urged locals to join town councillors at 9am before the inquiry is held at 10am.  

She said: “We have been fighting now for a number of years. Over 2000 people have written letters, people have emailed and now we will be outside peacefully protesting on the day because we have all fought so hard over the years to ensure that an incinerator or a gasification plant isn’t going to be built in Westbury.”

Councillor Kimmins hoped to get similar numbers to the protest outside County Hall in Trowbridge in June when more than 25 attended.  

Wiltshire Council voted down the plans for the incinerator in July, however the final decision is to be made by the planning inspector.

She added: “I think people will be very bitterly disappointed in democracy if the voices of the community are not heard.

“The incinerator is too big for the site. It isn’t necessary with global warming. There are other systems available. It’s just unnecessary, especially as the government are now cutting back on the burning of rubbish.

“But we can only put our case. It’s not just Westbury. It’s the 19 other villages and hamlets that are supporting us because they are also going to be affected by the emissions.”

The incinerator is proposed by Northacre Renewable Energy Ltd (NREL), who appealed against Wiltshire Council’s July decision to reject the incinerator. NREL said that Wiltshire Council had taken too long to make a decision.

The planning inquiry is split in two parts. The first from Tuesday November 22 to Thursday 24 then it will reconvene following a week’s break, on Monday December 5 until Thursday December 8.

If you wish to attend the inquiry in person, you must tell Wiltshire Council. The number of available places at the venue may be limited so email planningappeals@wiltshire.gov.uk as soon as possible.

To take part virtually, participants will need to be able to access Microsoft Teams.

Anyone who wishes to attend the inquiry virtually must make it known to Wiltshire Council as soon as possible by emailing: planningappeals@wiltshire.gov.uk