Scrapping incinerator contract 'would cost £19m'

Walking away from a controversial incinerator contract would cost about £19m, a council leader has said.

Work is under way on the £200m incinerator in Wiltshire after the project was given the go-ahead by the government in 2023 despite strong local opposition in Westbury.

South West Wiltshire's MP Andrew Murrison asked Wiltshire Council to abandon the project on Tuesday and said his constituents were "up in arms".

But council leader Ian Thorn said the local authority had to respect a contract signed in 2013 by a previous administration - which lasts until 2038 - or face a large up-front payout.

"I absolutely understand the economic argument that if we could get out of the contract, we'd save more money over the longer term. But you have to find the £19m first," Thorn told the full council meeting.

Work started on the £200m rubbish-burning facility in October and it is expected to be fully operational by late 2028.

The facility would mean more waste can be treated locally rather than having to be sent long distances.

Northacre Renewable Energy – of which Swindon-based waste management firm Hills is a stakeholder – intends to burn non-recyclable waste there to generate electricity.

Previously it said the site would be a "major investment in Wiltshire's energy infrastructure" and would "provide employment both during construction and operation".

It has called it a "sustainable, long-term solution" for waste in the area, which is would otherwise go to landfill sites or be exported to Europe.

Conservative councillors, Reform councillors, environmental campaigners and members of the public were among those who asked the Liberal Democrat-led council to stop the waste incinerator being built on Tuesday, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

As part of its alternative budget proposal, the Conservative group pledged to work with Westbury Town Council to explore every possible option to secure the funding needed to terminate the contract.

Its alternative budget motion did not pass.

Deanna de Roche of campaign group No Westbury Incinerator said the group wanted to protect residents' health and save money.

"We say no to this pollution in our town. It simply cannot be tolerated," she added.

Thorn said he had recently met with the mayor and town councillors of Westbury and reaffirmed his commitment to them.

"We will not leave any stone unturned in terms of finding a solution that addresses the very real and passionate concerns that residents have," he added.

Northacre Renewable Energy has been approached for comment.

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