A PROPOSAL for a new ‘energy centre’ in South Marston has been submitted, amid fierce opposition from residents who believe it to be an incinerator.

Developer Rolton Kilbride has submitted an application for a renewable energy centre at the Keypoint Employment site, just off the A420 near the Honda factory sites.

In April a public meeting saw residents pledge to block the energy centre becoming a reality and raise concerns around toxins released into the air and the build-up of traffic caused by rubbish lorries.

Roger and Patricia Hayes, of Birchwood Road, Stratton St Margaret, said they believed the planned energy centre was a risk to the public.

“We don’t want it in Stratton. If you are building a waste disposal facility it shouldn’t be near homes where children are growing up,” said Patricia, 76.

“A lot of people in the area are against it, we are deeply concerned about the future and we want to fight this.”

“This can’t be pushed through against the wishes of all of these residents, we are all so angry about it,” added 80-year-old Roger

“They say they won’t be burning rubbish, they will be baking it, they can’t control what is going into the air, it could be toxic.”

After the public meeting a steering committee was set up to fight the plan.

Rodbourne Cheney councillor Des Moffatt, who spearheaded the successful No Swindon Incineration campaign in Cheney Manor in 2010, said residents must show strength of opposition.

“I am fiercely opposed to it, on environmental grounds. I have been asked by the steering group to provide assistance and even though this is not my ward I will be doing this. Residents need to get behind this, there needs to be motivation there, strength is in numbers

“What we will be doing next is engaging with residents and encouraging them to show their support.”

The proposal has now been submitted to Swindon Borough Council. As part of the application Rolton Kilbride has performed a full environmental impact assessment which will be examined during the 16-week consultation process.

Plans for the scale and appearance of the buildings were disclosed at a public engagement session in March.

It is designed to bake non-recyclable rubbish at extreme temperatures to produce steam which powers generators.

These generators will then create around 14MW of electricity, enough to power more than 20,000 homes.

The company also acknowledge that this will be the first site of its kind in the UK, however they point to the successful use of the same technology at three sites in Norway.

If plans go ahead the site is expected to create 20 new jobs and the energy centre could become operational in approximately three years.

Ian Crummack, spokesman for Rolton Kilbride, said: "This is the beginning of a 16-week consultation process, during which time the application is put out for comment to a list of consultees (such as the Environment Agency) and made available for comment by other consultees and members of the public."

To see questions and answers on the plans visit keypointswindonenergy.co.uk