Waste is too high on parts of landfill site

Waste on parts of the Bryn Posteg landfill site near Llanidloes are above the height levels permitted, it has emerged.

The site is used for landfill of rubbish from through Montgomeryshire, as well as other parts of Powys.

A planning application has been made to "regularise" the areas that nearly eight metres above the height they should be.

The application will also see other parts of the site opened up for landfill in order to allow the levels to be lowered.

Llanidloes Without Community Council and Llanidloes Town Council oppose the plans which will see parts of the site extended in already designated areas.

Powys County Council uses the site for its waste.

"The tipping levels at Bryn Posteg Landfill Site have exceeded the levels on approved drawing No 9 of planning permission M/2004/1362 which permitted a broad domed landform with a maximum elevation of 341.5 m AOD," says a report to the county council's planning committee.

"The current surveyed maximum elevation (2018) is 349.65 m AOD, approximately 8 metres over the highest authorised level, and the depth of the overtipping varies from zero to a maximum overtip of 12.5 m.

"The overtip is not uniform and areas remain within or below the current consented levels."

The report adds: "This application is to regularise the existing unauthorised over-tipped material and to seek planning permission for the remaining areas where additional disposal of waste will be necessary to achieve a final landform which links in to the profiles already created.

"The proposed final landfiorm will have a maximum pre-settlement elevation on
completion of restoration of up to 351 m AOD."

The applicant says the work will take two years to complete.

According to the county council, Bryn Posteg landfill was originally owned and operated by Montgomeryshire County Council as a household waste disposal site up to the time of local government reorganisation in 1996, when Powys County Council sold the landfill to private ownership.

"The site has been operating as Sundorne (Llanidloes) ltd, part of the Potters Group, who are a significant regional operator of waste management facilities in Mid and West Wales. The landfill site has been extended in the past, and the most recent pre-settlement profile plan for the final restoration levels dates from 2004."

The report says Llanidloes Town Council oppose the application as further
to a public meeting where approximately 40 residents were present, it was agreed that "the residents of Llanidloes and surrounding areas have put up with the smell for long enough. We are being asked to support something which is illegal, has poor infrastructure and would increase traffic passing 2 busy Schools and residential areas.

"Any attempt to make that worse should be opposed to, therefore Llanidloes Town Council unanimously strongly oppose this application."

Llanidloes Without Community Council said: "The consensus of the meeting was that Brynposteg Landfill Site should continue to operate until such a time as the last cell within the site has been completed and capped.

"The works must be undertaken to a high standard with all works then ceasing on the site. Previous planning contents have been secured but have not been completed as per the detail of the Site Managers and Llanidloes Without Community Council do not wish this to continue. Finishing the cell and restoring the land to a green cover is the wish of this council."

Councillors will consider the application on Thursday.