Bulk recycling facility near Newtown work begins despite protests
Despite protests and public meetings over plans for a bulk recycling facility near Newtown, work to ready the site for building has already taken place.
At Powys County Council's planning committee meeting tomorrow, members will be looking at an application to discharge conditions eight and 12 of the planning approval for the site in Abermule, near Newtown, which deals with conservation and land contamination.
The county council is the applicant, which means that the application needs to be approved by committee.
The conditions to be discharged say: “No development shall take place until a site investigation of the nature and extent of contamination has been carried out, by a suitably qualified, competent person, in accordance with the methodology which has been previously been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.
The report adds: “The council’s contaminated land officer has confirmed that the proposed scope of works is acceptable.
“Officers are satisfied that sufficient information has been submitted to partially discharge the respective planning condition in accordance with relevant planning policies.”
The application will go before members just less than 48 hours after protestors meet the council’s political leader, Councillor Rosemarie Harris, and cabinet members Councillors Aled Davies and Phyl Davies.
Protestors have had a high profile campaign over the last four months and are still hoping that they can persuade the council to stop the development.
But the council has stressed that the facility is needed to meet Welsh Government recycling targets.
Senior council officers said they did “everything possible” to consult with residents including holding a public meeting, and that this is being forgotten as the protests gather momentum.
Last month, Mid and West Wales AM Helen Mary Jones, who is backing the campaign against the plans, said there should be a four month hold on the plans.
The politician went to listen to residents concerns recently, with over 150 people attending a meeting in the community centre.
She said: "It was a good opportunity to listen to genuine concerns and discuss various aspects of the development.
"It is clear that there are real concerns that Powys Council has railroaded the development and awarded itself planning permission in a rush.
"While it may well have done things legally correct and in order, it isn’t in the spirit of a openness and transparency.
“In view of the range of concerns I will be raising the matter with Ministers and asking Powys to alleviate concerns by giving a four month stay of development in order to consider in detail other potential sites which could be more suitable.
"I think that is the minimum that they should do.”
Report by Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter
