Local residents crowded into Cwmgwili Village Hall on Sunday evening to voice their concerns about a proposed pyrolysis plant at New Lodge Farm, on the A48 between Cross Hands and Pont Abraham.
Residents from the surrounding areas are concerned about potential emissions from the proposed plant, and the meeting was attended by local MP Nia Griffith and Cllr Calum Higgins, whose nearby Tycroes ward could be affected by emissions.
Commenting on the application, Nia Griffith MP said, “Residents have raised a host of concerns with me. Firstly there are highways issues – that stretch of dual carriageway has a terrible reputation for accidents, and money has recently been spent to improve safety by closing off the crossing gaps in the dual carriageway. Allowing some 120 slow moving lorries a day to turn off from and re-emerge onto that fast road would be a backward step. Secondly, residents have raised very real fears about the effects on human and animal health of potential emissions from the plant, and the dangers of fire or explosion. When I attended the developers’ open evening some months ago, I asked where I could visit a similar plant elsewhere, but apparently there is none, and many residents’ questions remained unanswered. We certainly need a lot more information about the process proposed.”
The meeting was called at extremely short notice because of worries about getting objections to the planning department in on time, but in fact the planning officers have agreed to extend the deadline to 24th April for comments from residents. Details of the planning application are on Carmarthenshire Count Council’s website, planning reference S/29559.