A JOINERY company has vowed to be good neighbours to the people of Old Town, despite some residents raising concerns about a biomass heater the company plans to run from its new base.

TT Solutions and Interiors, which opened at the Central Trading Estate in December, has applied to Swindon Council to operate the system.

The company, which makes furniture and employs 35 people, intends to use the heater to burn offcuts of wood for fuel rather than sending them to landfill.

Some residents are anxious about the application because they believe dangerous emissions will come from the site.

The plans will be debated by the planning committee at a meeting taking place at the Civic Offices at 6pm on Tuesday.

A council report has recommended that the application is approved.

TT Solutions and Interiors has bought the former joinery factory, moving the majority of its operations from a premises it rents in Headlands Trading Estate.

The Headlands property is earmarked to be demolished in the future .

The company insists that the system meets the criteria of the Clean Air Act.

“We are a British company supporting the people of Swindon and providing livelihoods,” said Stephen Treadaway, the company director.

“This new site is intended for joinery work. Our workforce was concerned about the future when we learnt of plans to flatten Headlands and we were pleased to take on this site.”

The council has received 40 letters of objection from the company’s neighbours and there is also a petition.

Before Christmas, concerned residents met with TT Solutions and Interiors to discuss the plans.

“The applicants very kindly agreed to meet the residents and explain how the system worked but we still have concerns,” said Jane Milner-Barry, from the Pipers Area Residents’ Association.

“We are very disappointed that the council has recommended this for approval as we think it needs further consideration.”

Coun Nadine Watts (Lab, Old Town) called in the application so it could be discussed by the committee.

She said: “A lot of people have contacted me on this application and I think it is right that it is going to the committee as it has drawn a lot of questions and it is only correct that they are discussed. I’m sure the right decision will be made.”

For the forseeable future, TT Solutions and Interiors plans to keep its Headlands base open and are considering taking on six more employees this year as the company continues to grow.