Shropshire Star

Fight continues against Mid Wales recycling plant

Two coachloads of protestors will attend a Powys County Council meeting over concerns regarding the building of a recycling facility in a village near Newtown.

Published
A protestor at the recent march

A local resident has discovered that 300 fires a year happen at recycling plants in the UK.

Rows are rumbling on about Powys County Council's plans for a bulk recycling unit in Abermule, near Newtown. Permission for the scheme was recently granted.

A protest march took place last month with residents calling for the plans to be scrapped because the plant will be a blot on the landscape.

The deadline for a judicial review has now passed but two coaches of protesters will head to a full council meeting in Llandrindod Wells tomorrow to make their feelings known to councillors.

Jane Rees has put forward a question to cabinet member for recycling Phyl Davies, in relation to figures surrounding fires at recycling sites.

She said: "Given reports confirm that over 300 fires a year occur in recycling plants throughout the UK, how satisfied are Powys County Council that in the event of a major incident at the planned recycling plant in Abermule the economy of Mid Wales will not be paralysed by the closure of the A483 trunk road and Cambrian Rail Line?

Disruption

"Such a fire in a building wedged between two main arterial routes and with a cubic capacity of over 18545m3, will be left to burn out over several days. This will have a catastrophic effect on this sensitive environment and result in a long period of disruption.

"The noxious gasses known to issue from burning plastic and will require the urgent evacuation of residents in the nearby village. In view of the above the Council should be considering other more suitable locations."

Councillor Davies has said the building will only store kerbside material for a short amount of time, which will reduce the risk of fires.

He said "There will be limited amounts of materials stored within the building and given the low risk nature of the materials there are limited ignition sources to enable a fire to start.

"The site will be managed by Powys operatives in accordance with a Natural Resources Wales Environmental Permit which will strictly govern operations at the site to minimise any environmental risks.

"An automatic fire alarm system with flame detectors will be installed within the building to alert staff and emergency services if there is any sign of fire emerging. Firefighting equipment will be available on site and will be regularly inspected."