Campaign delight at biomass decision
CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after plans for another biomass plant in Port Talbot were thrown out amid claims the town has become a dumping ground.
Councillors defied the expert advice of their own officers and rejected the application for Longlands Lane in Margam, where the town's first wood-burning plant is already up and running.
They said enough was enough and it was time other parts of Wales had their share of power stations.
Planners were set to throw out the 35mw development late last year because it would affect the setting of nearby Margam Park.
Before it went before councillors, applicant Geoff James asked for a deferral so he could reconsider his proposals.
He has submitted amended designs which were recommended for approval at yesterday's planning committee, only for members to vote by 28 votes to five to refuse permission.
Afterwards, Ten Acre Wood resident Nigel Fitzhugh said "I'm very pleased with the decision. It has been a long, hard battle."
Baglan Bay Pressure Group co-ordinator Eleanor Owen added: "Common sense has prevailed today."
Margam councillor Stan Mason told the committee he had opposed the first station in Longlands Lane and was against the second.
"We will have two in Margam, as well as Prenergy and something in Baglan as well," he said.
"I think that is too much for any town and it's about time other places in Wales had their share.
"We've had enough of it."
Other councillors spoke out against the visual effects and increased traffic levels.
But the main concerns was air quality, given that contaminated wood — around 350,000 tonnes a year, brought in from across the South Wales region — would be burned.
Planning chief Geoff White said consultants had concluded that there would be no adverse impact on emissions into the atmosphere.
He said it would have to comply with the European Waste Directive and would be policed by the Environment Agency Wales through its permit regime.
But this was challenged by councillor Ted Latham.
He said: "It's a well-known fact that Port Talbot's air is the dirtiest in the country, and to say this will not have an effect I just find unbelievable.
Councillor John Tallamy said Port Talbot had become a dumping ground for waste material.
He added: "If the Environment Agency doesn't know what it (the wood) will be contaminated with, how can they say there will not be a problem?"
paul.lewis@swwmedia.co.uk
5 Comments
by jeffery, dirtytown
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 6:22PM
“Hello Chris
I agree with your comments all four of them. It is a pity more people in this borough do not challenge the dictatorial power of a so called public servant. I have asked many times where Mr White gets the power to recommend or reject any application . It is conveniently ignored. I believe his job is to assemble an unbiased collection of facts to present to the planning committee. Is this why this town is in such a mess , tail wagging dog instead of the other way round. Thanks to the intelligent 28 who voted this out, don¿t know what to say to the 5 who voted for it, did they think they were putting their hands up to order tea and sandwiches. I believe that it is time that all council votes were recorded and made public, then we would see what is going on. No more secret votes, no more votes behind closed doors by the cabinet, They are paid by the public to serve the public.
Can we have a Tesco superstore here in Port Talbot now?, is the Ferry getting a Metro?”
by Christopher, Vale of Neath
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 2:51PM
“Well done NPTCBC Councillors, at last you have stood up for residents rights. However, I'm amazed Geoff White can still get away with the same old line he uses in all his planning application recommendations when heavy industry is planned for the County - "there would be no adverse impact on emissions into the atmosphere." I sometimes wonder why Mr. White is so keen on recommending dirty air industry, like open cast coal mining, bio-mass and why he has got away with it for so long. Now all the NPTCBC Councillors have to do is use the same common sense across the county when it comes to similar dirty industry.”
by Chris, Vale of Neath
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 2:50PM
“Well done NPTCBC Councillors, at last you have stood up for residents rights. However, I'm amazed Geoff White can still get away with the same old line he uses in all his planning application recommendations when heavy industry is planned for the County - "there would be no adverse impact on emissions into the atmosphere." I sometimes wonder why Mr. White is so keen on recommending dirty air industry, like open cast coal mining, bio-mass and why he has got away with it for so long. Now all the NPTCBC Councillors have to do is use the same common sense across the county when it comes to similar dirty industry.”
by Chris, Vale of Neath
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 2:50PM
“Well done NPTCBC Councillors, at last you have stood up for residents rights. However, I'm amazed Geoff White can still get away with the same old line he uses in all his planning application recommendations when heavy industry is planned for the County - "there would be no adverse impact on emissions into the atmosphere." I sometimes wonder why Mr. White is so keen on recommending dirty air industry, like open cast coal mining, bio-mass and why he has got away with it for so long. Now all the NPTCBC Councillors have to do is use the same common sense across the county when it comes to similar dirty industry.”
by Chris, Vale of Neath
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 2:48PM
“Well done NPTCBC Councillors, at last you have stood up for residents rights. However, I'm amazed Geoff White can still get away with the same old line he uses in all his planning application recommendations when heavy industry is planned for the County - "there would be no adverse impact on emissions into the atmosphere." I sometimes wonder why Mr. White is so keen on recommending dirty air industry, like open cast coal mining, bio-mass and why he has got away with it for so long. Now all the NPTCBC Councillors have to do is use the same common sense across the county.”