Black bin rubbish to be handled at recycling centre

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Promises made to villagers not to handle black bin residual waste at the controversial North Powys Recycling Facility in Abermule have proved worthless, as councillors voted to allow it.

Last month, Powys County Council submitted a planning application to allow residual material from black bin waste to be stored and bulked up in a dedicated bay inside the existing building at Abermule.

The council expects to save £100,000 by not needing to take black bin waste to a contractor for disposal.

The application came before the Planning Committee at a meeting on Thursday, December 18.

Senior planning officer Kate Bowen recommended that councillors approve the scheme, and stressed that promises made over the years not to process black bin waste there were: “not a reason to refuse it.”

Cllr Gareth Pugh represents the village and spoke against the proposal.

Cllr Pugh (Conservative – Dolforwyn) said: “Powys has a facility on a heavy industrial estate in Welshpool (Potters) which handles black bags at the moment.

“Not many of us know this but when the incinerator goes down – which happens quite often – Potters still pick up from Brecon and Rhayader and they hold it on the site until they get the green light to move it on.

“If Powys loses this facility, Brecon, Rhayader and Abermule would all have to hold black bin waste until such time as the incinerator is up and running.”

Cllr Pugh continued: “This site already exists in Welshpool. Abermule is not the site for this.

“Saving money is not a planning consideration.”

Senior Waste and Recycling Manager Ashley Collins said: “Circumstances have changed over the years.

“The contract for residual waste is shortly to be re-tendered and a site is required in the north to bulk residual waste.

“The current site we use is part of a contract that will be coming to an end.”

He added that black bin waste would not be kept at the facilities, as “whoever wins” the new contract would need to take it to an alternative site daily.

Mr Collins stressed: “All the potential issues are controlled by an environmental permit by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

“If we do breach that permit, NRW can take action and could close the site.”

Former Planning committee chairman, Cllr Karl Lewis (Reform UK – Llandinam with Dolfor) said that he was willing to refuse the proposal and sited a raft of planning policies to back up his arguments.

“The one closest to my heart is flooding – we don’t have a flood consequence assessment (FCA) so that is contrary to policy and TAN 15,” said Cllr Lewis.

Mrs Bowen said that a FCA was not needed as it is and that it had not been “requested” by NRW as they know this is “an existing facility,” with a “less vulnerable use.”

Cllr Elwyn Vaughan (Plaid Cymru – Glantwymyn) said: “I understand why the authority has presented this application. However I do have angst about it  because it’s a classic case of how not to do things.

“I have a record of minutes from a cabinet meeting from February 2017, where Cllr Jones (Cllr Pugh’s predecessor) asked and received assurance that residual waste would not be handled on the site.

“Then we see a similar assurance given to Cllr (Myfanwy) Alexander in May 2019.

“I’m well aware of assurances given in public meetings, one by the previous leader of the authority and portfolio holder (former councillors Rosemarie Harris and Phyl Davies).

“It’s for those very reasons that people are cynical about politicians and local authorities when they can’t trust what they are told.

“It’s highly regrettable and unfortunate in this case.”

Cllr Corinna Kenyon-Wade (Liberal Democrat – Knighton and Beguildy) said: “I know Abermule quite well and this site is some distance from houses.

“I’ve been to Rhayader’s site and the houses are nearer to where the residual waste is kept and I believe it works quite well.”

Cllr Angela Davies (Liberal Democrat – Rhayader) said: “Our refuse and recycling depot is slap bang in the middle of the town and there are houses adjoining the centre.

“I spend many a summer evening in the garden of one of my friends that live there and not once have we had an issue.

“I’ve asked her if the odour from the depot is a problem and she says no.

“They do hear the tinkling of cans and bottles when they are emptied – I’m inclined to support this.”

Cllr Gareth E Jones (Powys Independent – Llanelwedd) believed that it was the food waste that smells and this is already processed at Abermule.

He was happy to propose a vote to support the officer’s recommendation which Cllr Davies seconded.

Eventually, the committee went to a vote, with nine councillors voting for, three against, and two abstaining.