NORTH Petherton councillors have voted to support of a small scale waste to energy plant on the southern outskirts of Bridgwater.

The plant will use state-of-theart technology to produce power and provide heat for neighbouring businesses.

Bridgwater Resource Recovery is the company behind the project on land off Showground Road in Bridgwater.

A planning application has been lodged with Somerset County Council.

If approved, the plant would take 80,000 tonnes of rubbish each year from local businesses, recycle what some of the material and dispose of the rest through a process called gasification.

Last week the Bridgwater Resource Recovery Limited’s managing director, Andy Olie, met with North Petherton Town Council to explain the plans.

If the project is approved the plant will produce enough electricity to power 8,000 homes and create 30 new jobs.

The parish council said it would support the scheme, subject to there being no weekend, late night or early morning deliveries and that the company gives an undertaking to employ local people.

North Petherton Mayor Alan Bradford gave his support to the proposals, saying: “I think it’s good for jobs in this area and a good practical idea.”

After the meeting, Andy Olie said: “We are very grateful for the support of the town council.

“Being a good neighbour is very important to us and so too is employing local people and we have already given a commit to do just that.”

Sedgemoor District Council, the Environment Agency and the Highways Agency have also said that they have no objections to the plans.

“There is a real need to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and also to provide clean, efficient energy. This project ticks both those boxes.”

“Right now businesses which have to dispose of this waste through landfill are having to pay a very high price – and of course it is very environmentally unfriendly.

“We desperately need to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and our plant will offer a clean, efficient solution.”

The project will now be considered by the county council’s planning committee in November.