A MASS protest is planned for tonight to send a direct message to councillors that a proposed biomass plant in north Swindon is not wanted.

Around 250 campaigners are expected to gather on the forecourt of the Civic Offices to show their united opposition to plans to build a plant at the Cheney Manor Industrial Estate.

At a public meeting last week, at Western Community Centre, more than 300 turned up to learn about Pure Green’s application to build a plant to produce animal bedding and energy at the former SquareD factory.

Under the proposals, the company will produce around 50,000 tonnes of animal bedding annually using two chimneys up to 30 metres high.

Coun Des Moffatt, who represents the Rodbourne Cheney ward, said: “I have been overwhelmed by the public’s reaction,” said councillor “I didn’t expect it to attract so much interest. People were queuing up to join in.”

He said the site for the plant was completely in the wrong position, with 20,000 households to the north, 10,000 to the west, 25,000 to the east and at least 2,500 to the south.

“But it is not just the wrong place, it is not an environmentally friendly process by any stretch of the imagination,” said Coun Moffatt.

He said strangers have been turning up at his door delivering signed petitions after they downloaded the papers from the Swindon incineration -No! website.

Coun Moffat compared the level of response to the protests when the Thatcher government introduced the Poll Tax.

A planning committee in August deferred its decision on whether the plant should be approved after around 150 people swamped the council’s chambers to protest against the plans.

The committee ruled before the application could go back in front of councillors, the company would have to hold consultations with the public.

“Anyone who cares about this application should turn up,” said Coun Moffatt, who will present 700 signatures to Swindon’s mayor Nick Martin to add to the 1,700 that already been handed over.

“There will not be enough space for people to come into the meeting but it will show them that there is a massive number of people who are behind this and it is not just a few NIMBYs.”

The director of Pure Green, Peter Vandeputte, has said that talks are underway with the council’s planning team to decide where and when public consultations can be hosted.

A full council meeting will begin at 7pm.

To view the Swindon incineration -No! website visit www.swin.org.uk/blog_.