Cardiff Post Article July 2009

Last week I attended the Planning Committee meeting. Whilst I was waiting for a Rhiwbina application to be heard, I watched the debate on the proposal for a new incinerator to be built in the Splott ward. At the previous meeting, the committee had deferred the application and asked the Planning Officers to come up with a reason for refusal which could be considered. At this meeting there was lengthy debate whilst the committee discussed the reason and how the application related to Prosiect Gwyrdd, the scheme between Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Newport, Caerphilly and Monmouthshire Councils to find cost-effective ways of reducing and recycling waste across this area. After about an hour of debate, some Councillors changing their view, and with the Planning officers recommending that the incinerator be passed, the committee voted and decided to refuse permission.

Whatever your view on incineration, this planning application showed that the issue is highly controversial. There were a large number of written comments against the application whilst the applicant had also outlined their view with concerns about the potential reason for refusal. I understand that at the previous meeting a representative of Friends of the Earth and a representative of the applicant had spoken on both sides of the debate. Taking into account all this information, the planning committee refused the incinerator and it will now be up to the Planning Inspectorate for Wales to examine the application, should there be any appeal against CardiffÂ’s decision.

I also attended recently a briefing session on Prosiect Gwyrdd.  The project was set up as a response to the Welsh Assembly Government’s target of 70% waste to be recycled/composted by 2025, which will ultimately avoid the large cost of the EU landfill tax. This means that there will likely be applications throughout South Wales for incinerators and also other waste disposal/treatment plants and I do not envy the work of Councils in approving or rejecting applications. However the fact that Prosiect Gwyrdd exists shows how important it is for each one of us to recycle and avoid sending waste to landfill.

If you are interested in finding out more information on Prosiect Gwyrdd, then the website www.caerphilly.gov.uk/prosiectgwyrdd has a lot of useful information

The next Rhiwbina PACT meeting is being held on Tuesday 11^th August, starting at 7pm at All Saints Church, Heol y Felin.  My ward colleagues and I are holding a ward surgery immediately before the PACT meeting starting at 5.30pm.

I can be contacted on telephone 029 2062 7757, fax 029 2087 7005, mobile 079 7001 3332, E-Mail jcowan@cardiff.gov.uk or log on to http://www.rhiwbinaward.com/