A Wiltshire company hoping to use waste energy from a landfill site to grow low-cost food has pulled out of the county council's climate summit after accusing the authority of "blocking the very innovations they are looking to celebrate".
Sustain - an initiative by family-run landfill operator Crapper and Sons - first announced plans to use methane gas generated at its site in Royal Wootton Bassett to heat greenhouses in 2023.
Under the proposals, the Brinkworth Road facility would grow affordable fruit and vegetables for the communities of Royal Wootton Basset, Malmesbury, Purton and Brinkworth.
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The organisation submitted its planning application in 2024 and was told the outcome would be determined on June 11, 2025. However, instead Sustain said it received 31 new questions from the local authority on that day.
It also claimed the council's failure to consult National Highways had resulted in a letter of objection "at the eleventh hour".
Sustain says it has now been told Wiltshire Council's planning team will take a minimum of 16 weeks to review the responses to the latest questions while it may take six months to address National Highways’ points of objection.
Nick Ash, director of Sustain Wiltshire and Crapper and Sons Landfill, said: “From our public consultations in 2023 through to last week we had not received a single voice of opposition to the Super-Midden.
"It is widely regarded as a progressive and innovative solution to the issue of landfill which is capable of removing over 3,800 tonnes of CO2 per year, at the same time as generating sufficient heat and energy to produce affordable fruit and vegetables to meet 8O% of the needs of Royal Wootton Basset, Malmesbury, Purton and Brinkworth.
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“Now, at five minutes to midnight, we are faced with further questions, most of which have been addressed in our previous submissions, and a formal objection from the National Highways that could have been addressed months ago if the planning team at Wiltshire Council had done their job."
Sustain was due to take part in a panel session on "low-waste culture and local share economy" at Wiltshire Council’s Climate and Environment Summit, but has now pulled out.
Councillor Paul Sample JP, cabinet member for environment, climate and waste, said: “We are disappointed to learn of Sustain Wiltshire’s decision to not attend the Climate and Environment Summit this weekend.
"It is a shame that they do not wish to engage in the event which is completely separate to the planning process and will celebrate businesses working towards carbon neutrality and share best practice and approaches to accelerate their progress towards net zero.
“It would be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing planning application, but the council has a duty to assess the submitted proposals and take into account comments received from internal and external consultees. The council remains keen to work positively with Sustain Wiltshire to resolve the outstanding issues.”
The environmental summit, which is being run in collaboration with Wiltshire Climate Alliance and Swindon Borough Council, is taking place in Trowbridge over two days from Friday, June 20, to Saturday, June 21.
“Sadly, we see no way of being able to participate in an event run by a council that appears to be blocking the very innovations and initiatives that they are looking to celebrate at their summit," Mr Ash added.
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"By taking this action and boycotting the event by mutual agreement – rather than raising these issues at the conference – we hope to draw attention to the damage being caused by outdated bureaucracy; without detracting from the important messages being addressed at the summit.
“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 on the grounds of non-determination, and we will also review our legal options to seek compensation from Wiltshire Council.”