What is happening at Westonzoyland Airfield?

A company called Towens has a permit to process and store recycled aggregates and inert waste, and villagers are legally challenging an expansion of this permit.

Why are villagers challenging the plans for Westonzoyland Airfield?

Parish councillors cite concerns about local health, wildlife, dust, and noise pollution, describing the site as a 'wasteland'.

Home / Environment / Historic Airfield Faces 'Wasteland' Threat

Historic Airfield Faces 'Wasteland' Threat

Q: How much money is the parish council trying to raise for legal action?

The parish council aims to raise an initial £1,000 for legal advice and expert reports, with a further £10,000 target for a full judicial review.

23 Jan

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Summary

Villagers challenge expansion of waste processing at Westonzoyland Airfield.
A legal challenge quashed previous planning permission for the site.
The parish council aims to raise £11,000 for legal action against waste expansion.

Historic Airfield Faces 'Wasteland' Threat

Residents are taking legal action to stop Westonzoyland Airfield, near Bridgwater, Somerset, from being transformed into a 'wasteland'. Westonzoyland Parish Council has initiated a legal challenge against the Environment Agency (EA) to prevent an expansion of Towens' permit for processing 'recycled aggregates' and storing waste. This follows a previous High Court ruling in October 2026 that quashed Somerset Council's decision to grant planning permission for storing up to 85,000 tonnes of material for three years. The parish council argues that the airfield is becoming a 'dusty, smelly' site with stockpiled waste near conservation areas, posing threats to health and wildlife. The current legal challenge targets the EA's proposal to quadruple the site's inert waste processing capacity to 200,000 tonnes annually. Villagers describe HGVs causing dust pollution and waste contaminating local rhynes. The parish council is fundraising, initially seeking £1,000 for legal advice and expert reports, with a further £10,000 target for a full judicial review.