WILTSHIRE Council's decision not to defend their refusal of the Hills Waste application to extend the current recycling facility in Lower Compton was slammed on the final day of the public inquiry.

Representatives from Hills Waste and Wiltshire Waste Alliance lambasted the council's lack of involvement in the inquiry, which was brought to an end at Trowbridge Civic Centre on Wednesday (March 2.)

During their closing statements, Gregory Jones representing the Wiltshire Waste Alliance and Paul Tucker on behalf of Hills Waste, set out their reasons why they believed the evidence was right and wrong, clashing over documents such as the environmental impact statement and the assessments into air quality in Calne.

"The council has a secret meeting, or a meeting held in confidence I should say," Mr Jones said. "We do not know the contents of that meeting as it has not been disclosed to you sir or anyone for that matter. All we know is that they decided not to defend its reasons for refusing this application."

Citing evidence presented to inspector Brian Sims, Wiltshire Waste Alliance argued that the appeal should be dismissed based on evidence concerning an increase of tonnage, traffic and pollution.

Mr Jones added: "An important issue in this application is the additional number of HGV's that will be on the roads if this is allowed and the impact that they will have on the local road network and the air quality in that area including a part which has been designated as an AQMA due to an excess of Nitrogen Dioxide."

Although Mr Tucker was equally as passionate about Hills' evidence and the unhelpfulness of the council, he conceded that they needed to work together.

He said: "This case has many considerably complex issues but we propose that the base lines are lawful, that the environmental impact statement assess the correct base lines and if the base lines are correct then the air quality assessment is correct and permission should be granted.

He said: "This case has many considerably complex issues but we propose that the base lines are lawful, that the environmental impact statement assess the correct base lines and if the base lines are correct then the air quality assessment is correct and permission should be granted.

"The council have acted unreasonably. They have been unhelpful throughout and have left more loose ends but it is recognised that Hills have to work with the council in the future and I am instructed not to make an application for costs against them. Wiltshire Waste Alliance should also think of themselves as fortunate as no costs application will be brought against them."

Wiltshire Waste Alliance applied for full costs and partial costs against Hills Waste due to the adjournment last September and a decision on the appeal is expected to be made by mid April.