RESIDENTS in Stratton have renewed their opposition to plans to build two 10 metre high chimneys at the Marshgate Waste Transfer Station.

An application to put up the chimneys, along with biomass boilers, was submitted to Swindon Borough Council by an agency on behalf of Bromview Ltd in February and has since faced fierce opposition from residents.

Planning permission was refused at the end of June on the grounds that, among others, “no justification has been provided to demonstrate why the chimneys are required to be of the proposed height”.

That decision is currently being appealed, with a date on which a final verdict will be given not yet decided.  

And residents and councillors in Stratton are determined not to see the chimneys erected.

Emily Morrison, 64, who lives just a 10 minute walk from the site, said: “I was horrified to hear that they were wanting to build something like that round here, and I’m still completely against it.

“It will be a huge blight on our lives and I’m pleased to see the council refused planning permission earlier this year.”

The proposals include the installation of two biomass boilers, intended to burn wood, to be placed along the northern boundary of Marshgate Waste Transfer Station.

For this to go ahead, two 10-metre high chimneys would also have to be put up.

Each 999kw boiler would require a flue extending to a height of 10 metres and would be put in one of the existing buildings.

Residents have objected to the plans on the grounds of road congestion, air and sight pollution and possible environmental damage.

One woman, Jean Mackeddie, who has lived in Stratton for 40 years, spoke passionately at a parish council meeting earlier this year.

She said: “I strongly believe it is totally inappropriate to put these chimneys here. There will be a huge increase in traffic levels and the roads simple won’t support it.

"Why do we need this and why should it be placed here?”

It has been confirmed that the Averies brothers are not behind the current planning application.

Emily added: “I know people who live round here who suffer with asthma, and it would be awful if their health was affected just because people want to build two huge chimneys.”

But LPC Trull Ltd, the agents who submitted the application, said: “The new chimneys will not change the overall appearance of the area. The public impact is minimal.”