A COUNCIL candidate has urged residents to submit their views on the proposed Keypoint Incinerator project.

It follows an appeal by developer Rolton Kilbride against the council’s decision to refuse to grant permission for the scheme.

The vice-chairman of Stratton St Margaret Parish Council, and the Conservatives’ council candidate in this week’s election, Roger Smith, has urged residents to give their views to the Planning Inspectorate by May 9.

He said: “Some people may not be aware that the timetable for the appeal has just been announced. The inquiry will start on January 22 2019 and everyone who has concerns about the appeal proposals should have this date in their diary.

“This means that the inquiry evidence to be submitted by Rolton Kilbride and the borough council will need to be with the Planning Inspectorate by December 18 2018.

“In the short term, the deadline for local residents to submit their representations is May 9. I have submitted my representations and I am working with SKIP which is the local action group on the content of their representations.”

The Stop Keypoint Incinerator Project group has been against the plans since they were first put forward in 2016.

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson welcomed the action taken by Mr Smith and praised the group SKIP for all of their hard work in this ongoing campaign.

The proposed gasification plant would burn 150,000 tonnes of refuse-derived fuel a year and operate 24/7.

Representations can be submitted via the Planning Inspectorate’s website. The appeal reference is APP/U3935/W/18/3197964.