THE company behind a proposed energy centre at South Marston has revealed new information about the plans, casting doubt on claims being made by campaigners.

Rolton Kilbride is hoping to build the centre, which will dispose of non-recyclable waste, on land adjacent to the A420 near to the Honda car plant.

At a well-attended public meeting held last month, organisers told residents that the proposed facility would be very similar to an incinerator at Cheney Manor which was widely opposed and eventually rejected.

They warned of damage to the air quality which could pose a threat to residents in Lower Stratton, South Marston and Coleview.

Local resident Andy Pederson, who convened the meeting against the proposal, wrote in a letter to residents: “Based on the information I have received, I believe Rolton Kilbride’s energy centre will be an incinerator.”

However, further details released by the company this week show that there are no such similarities between the two proposals.

The system proposed for the new waste disposal facility more closely resembles that which was put forward in plans for a smaller energy centre inside the Honda car plant in 2014.

That application sailed through the planning process and was approved by Swindon Borough Council with no local objections just a week after the Cheney Manor incinerator plan was finally rejected.

Both the approved Honda energy centre and the new waste disposal facility would use gasification technology which bakes waste in an oxygen starved environment, turning it into a gas, rather than burning it.

The absence of oxygen – a key component for burning in incinerators – is what reduces the emissions.

The gas is then used to heat water which turns to steam, the steam powers turbines which produce electricity and heat.

Coun Des Moffatt, who strongly opposed the Cheney Manor incinerator, said of the Honda proposal at the time: “I am very happy with this decision because this is gasification, a new technology.”

The plans were also backed the by the local parish council as well as the Council environmental health team.

A spokesperson for Rolton Kilbride said: “The Honda energy centre, which had already been granted planning permission by Swindon Borough Council, was based on gasification technology, but less advanced than the proposed energy centre.

“Gasification is a proven, clean and modern approach to producing energy and the new site has been identified as an ideal location, within an existing industrial site.

“It is already operating successfully in the UK, Norway and Japan – notably, it is classed by the Government as a renewable technology and qualifies for the same funding as off shore wind and tidal power.

“Where this scheme goes beyond the approved Honda plan is in the potential to provide local homes with low cost heat via district heating.”

Initial plans suggest the proposed energy centre would produce 14MW of electricity, enough to power 20,000 homes – although it is not yet clear how much of that power would be directed to adjacent industrial units and how much would be used for residential areas.