People living in Barry have vowed to keep fighting the opening of an incinerator at the town’s docks.
More than eighty people attended a meeting following the announcement that Natural Resources Wales is likely to grant an operating permit.
NRW says it’s satisfied the plant can operate without damaging the environment or the health of local people.
But residents and councillors alike say other threats remain.
There has been opposition to the facility since the original application was rejected in 2009.
The plant has already been built but it had been hoped that Natural Resources Wales would decline to grant an operating permit.
In a press statement, NRW state that they are “satisfied appropriate measures will be in place to allow [the plant] to operate without damaging the environment or the health of local people.”
The news that they are ‘minded’ to grant a permit at the end of a consultation period has been a blow to campaigners.
They now plan to take their concerns directly to First Minister Carwyn Jones.
Following the announcement 80 people attended a meeting organised by the Docks Incinerator Action Group.
This included elected councillors from both Barry Town Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council. Representatives for Jane Hutt AM (Labour) and Andrew RT Davies MP (Conservative) were also present.
They discussed the next steps in their bid to stop the opening of the “gasification plant” by Aviva-owned company Biomass UK No.2 Ltd.
Despite NRW assertions that the facility will not have a damaging effect on the environment or the health of local residents, those present at the meeting continued to voice concerns.
They say they are worried about the effect emissions from the site could have on people living and working nearby. They say the facility is too close to residential areas and point out that there are twelve schools within a 2km radius of the site.
Cllr Hodges also said that the plant, which is within a mile of Barry Island, could have a negative impact on the image of the area as a tourist destination.
