news story

7th March 2008

MP & Councillors Welcome Victory in Fight over Composter Application

The decision by SITA to withdraw their application for a giant composting plant in the Green Belt between Pucklechurch and Westerleigh has been warmly welcomed by Northavon MP Steve Webb, Westerleigh councillor Claire Young and local residents and campaigners.

The application was the subject of a packed public meeting at Pucklechurch community centre on 12th February at which local MP Steve Webb told SITA that this was the wrong place for such a development.

Commenting on the news, local Councillor Claire Young (Lib Dem, Westerleigh ward) said:

"I am delighted that SITA have listened to local people and withdrawn this application. Development on this scale would have harmed an important stretch of the green belt that protects our villages."

She added:

"I warned SITA of residents’ likely concerns when they first explained their plans to local Councillors and it is unfortunate that they did not take them on board at that stage. There is a real need for a facility to deal with South Gloucestershire’s food waste and I am glad that SITA will now be directing their efforts towards a brown field site."

Steve Webb added:

"This is very good news. Members of the public sometimes wonder if there is any point in coming to meetings and writing to the Council, so it is good that on this occasion the overwhelming opposition of local residents has been listened to. SITA should never have thought of using such an unsuitable site and I hope that they will now redouble their efforts to find a site more suitable for an industrial development of this sort."