“Make your voices heard” councillor tells Incinerator opposers

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

A councillor has called on opponents of a proposed waste incinerator to make their voices heard after plans for the Buttington project were lodged with the Welsh Government.

On Monday, Broad Energy Wales formally submitted the planning application for a “Energy Recovery Facility” which could produced enough electricity to power 20,000 homes and create local jobs.

The application is seen as a Development of National Significance (DNS) so it will be dealt with by government planning inspectors rather than Powys County Council planners.

The  12.8 mega watt incinerator development includes other infrastructure buildings including a 70 metre high chimney stack and changes to the roads.

During the next month, Powys County Council and the community will be given a formal opportunity to consult on the plans.

Trewern County Councillor, Amanda Jenner, who is standing in the Ceredigion constituency in the forthcoming Senedd Elections and is also number two on the Conservative Mid and Wales Regional List, explained how people can give their opinion on the proposals.

Cllr Jenner, said: “If you feel strongly about this matter then it is really important that you make your views known.”

Cllr Jenner advised people when they are presenting their arguments against the proposal to “stick to the facts, focus on issues raised by the project, be specific and provide examples, tell the inspection their opinion and not leave them to guess”.

She added that people should write in “clear, simple, everyday language” and not to just vent their frustrations or annoyance about the proposal.

She said: “I will also be writing to the relevant Welsh Government Minister to request an extension to the consultation until face-to-face meetings can take place in person.

“I am concerned that all should have the ability to engage with this given the emotive and sensitive nature of this.”

Cllr Jenner also expressed her concerns that those who don’t have access to the internet may have their voices muted.

Documents should have been available for people to read at local council offices, but due to the ongoing pandemic this is not available.

She added: “Any requests for hard copies should be made to the applicant directly.”

According to Cll Jenner an extraordinary meeting of Trewern Community Council is also being organised provisionally for May 11 to discuss their response to the proposal.

In their Design and Access Statement, Broad Energy explain that the facility would take up to three years to build, create 300 construction jobs and provide work for 30 permanent jobs once operational.

They add that the facility’s lifespan will be 25 to 30 years and that it would be operational all day, everyday.

Broad Energy said: “The vision of the development is to provide a sustainable use for a former quarry area by delivering a bespoke facility to waste management and the generation of low carbon energy.

“The long term  objective is for the development to act as a catalyst for the wider aspiration for the development sire to create an eco-business park.”

“The Welsh Government has set the target to become a zero waste nation by 2050.

“The ERF represents a major step in helping Wales achieve this ambition.”