Eco company boycotts climate summit amid planning row

A green recycling firm has declared it is boycotting a climate summit in protest to a council's delay in assessing plans for a "first of a kind" eco-friendly landfill site.

Sustain Wiltshire, based near Royal Wootton Bassett, will not attend Wiltshire Council's Climate and Environment Summit on Friday and Saturday, where leaders will consider approaches to lessen the county's environmental impact.

The firm slammed delays in the council granting permission for a new site which will harvest fumes from landfill to generate electricity.

Councillor Paul Sample, cabinet member for environment, climate and waste, said he was "disappointed" by the decision, adding the process is "completely separate".

The company's bosses said their proposed Super-Midden production centre will remove "3,800 tonnes of carbon emissions per year", while "generating sufficient heat and energy to produce affordable fruit and vegetables" for a number of north Wiltshire communities.

Nick Ash, director of Sustain Wiltshire, said that they had made the decision not to participate in the summit due to the lack of certainty over their project.

"From our public consultations in 2023 through to last week, we had not received a single voice of opposition to the Super-Midden", he added.

"Now, at five minutes to midnight, we are faced with further questions and a formal objection from the National Highways.

"We continue to encourage Wiltshire Council's planning officers to fast-track their planning decision. Should this fail, we will have no choice but to appeal to the Planning Directorate."

In response, councillor Sample said that it was "inappropriate to comment on an ongoing planning application" and that "the council remains keen to work positively with Sustain Wiltshire to resolve the outstanding issues".

"It is a shame that they do not wish to engage in the event, which will celebrate businesses working towards carbon neutrality and share best practice and approaches to accelerate their progress towards net zero," he added.

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