Thursday
18
April
"Transparency" needed over recycling site, says MS
25/03/2022 @ 11:56
Powys County Council needs to be transparent on its intentions for the bulk recycling facility at Abermule, says the areas Member of the Senedd.
It comes after the council had an application for an environmental permit turned down by Natural Resources Wales.
NRW turned it down based on ‘concerns relating to the current application’s proposed Fire Prevention and Mitigation Plan.'
Russell George, MS for Montgomeryshire, said he had asked the council previously to honour a commitment to the community not to use the site for household waste and any permit application should not incorporate the storage of residual waste.
Mr George said: “Natural Resources Wales have outlined their reasons for refusal and it's clear that the Council have not satisfied the licensing permitting body that their proposals would not cause an unacceptable environmental impact.
“I think it is highly unusual for a local authority to be so critical of a body such as NRW. The council has stated that they intend to lodge an appeal and I believe the council needs to be transparent about their intentions going forward and outline how much the refusal of the application has cost the public purse.”
“There are so many wider questions that demand answers, although it may be common practice for relevant licenses to be applied for after a build has taken place, there are clear questions around how appropriate that is.
“I have now written to the CEO of Powys County Council and asked to meet with her to seek clarity on the council’s plans. I would hope it goes without saying that no waste whatsoever should be sent to or stored at the site.”
Commenting, Cllr Gareth Pugh, who represent Abermule, said: “There has been a great deal of mistrust towards the council, as the council’s application included intended provision for residual black bag waste to be stored at the facility, which followed a commitment that no black bag waste would be stored on site”
“It is clear that Powys county council officers were taken totally off guard by the refusal of the application.”
“It is crucial that safety is paramount and always comes first. The council had not satisfied NRW that they had a clear robust fire prevention and mitigation plan.”
It comes after the council had an application for an environmental permit turned down by Natural Resources Wales.NRW turned it down based on ‘concerns relating to the current application’s proposed Fire Prevention and Mitigation Plan.'
Russell George, MS for Montgomeryshire, said he had asked the council previously to honour a commitment to the community not to use the site for household waste and any permit application should not incorporate the storage of residual waste.
Mr George said: “Natural Resources Wales have outlined their reasons for refusal and it's clear that the Council have not satisfied the licensing permitting body that their proposals would not cause an unacceptable environmental impact.
“I think it is highly unusual for a local authority to be so critical of a body such as NRW. The council has stated that they intend to lodge an appeal and I believe the council needs to be transparent about their intentions going forward and outline how much the refusal of the application has cost the public purse.”
“There are so many wider questions that demand answers, although it may be common practice for relevant licenses to be applied for after a build has taken place, there are clear questions around how appropriate that is.
“I have now written to the CEO of Powys County Council and asked to meet with her to seek clarity on the council’s plans. I would hope it goes without saying that no waste whatsoever should be sent to or stored at the site.”
Commenting, Cllr Gareth Pugh, who represent Abermule, said: “There has been a great deal of mistrust towards the council, as the council’s application included intended provision for residual black bag waste to be stored at the facility, which followed a commitment that no black bag waste would be stored on site”
“It is clear that Powys county council officers were taken totally off guard by the refusal of the application.”
“It is crucial that safety is paramount and always comes first. The council had not satisfied NRW that they had a clear robust fire prevention and mitigation plan.”
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