The divisional director of The Hills Group Ltd is reassuring people in Westbury that measures will be put in place to protect neighbours and buildings if a multi-million pound renewable energy centre in Westbury goes ahead.

Northacre Renewable Energy Limited, part of the The Hills Group, wants to build the centre in Stephenson Road to generate electricity and heat by treating household rubbish.

The centre will utilise an Advanced Thermal Treatment technology known as gasification. The gasification heats converted waste, processed at the existing Northacre Resource Recovery Centre, up to 1,400 degrees Centigrade and converts it to gas to drive a turbine, which will create heat and electricity for the National Grid and some nearby businesses.

Emissions will be treated by air pollution control systems. Dioxins, Furans and acid gases will be removed from the exhaust gases before they are expelled by a chimney stack. Hills hasn’t said how high it will be.

There are historic concerns about the burning of waste in Westbury, specifically regarding emissions from the Lafarge cement factory when it was operational in the town.

“I am aware of the history of Lafarge,” said Ed Dodd, divisional director of Hills Group.

“We are really excited to be able to announce this project. I think it fills quite a significant gap in the Wiltshire area in terms of waste management. This is not conventional incineration. It is cleaner than that. That’s an important factor.”