N-PLANT ROAD GREEN LIGHT
Autumn start for A5025 widening and resurfacing works:
THE firm behind a planned multi-billion-pound nuclear plant has been awarded planning permission to carry out significant improvements to a 16 kilometre stretch of road linking the development with the A55.
Following a site visit, Anglesey council’s planning committee approved the plans which include widening and putting down a new surface on the A5025 between Valley and Llanynghenedl, Llanfachraeth and Llanrhuddlad, and Cefn Coch to the proposed Wylfa Newydd power plant site.
According to officers, they were satisfied that the plans would bring a number of benefits, recommending that members of the planning committee should approve the proposals. The work is expected to take over a year to complete, employing up to 125 workers.
However, the report notes that as a proportion of the work will be specialist road con- struction, it’s anticipated that some of the skilled labour will need to be sourced from outside the local area.
A condition was put in place that work should start within two years, but Horizon has already promised that it will commence much sooner - possibly as early as the autumn and before the fate of the plant’s DCO (Development Consent Order) is known.
Officers also expressed their belief that mitigation measures would be put in place after concerns were raised by the community council in Llanfechell that the village may be used as “a rat run” as motorists try to avoid the roadworks on the main road.
In response to further concerns that a better road would lead to more speeding, Horizon has already promised that an assessment of the speed limits along the entire route has been undertaken.
The report that was presented to Anglesey’s planning committee noted: “It is considered that the A5025 Proposals will facilitate the wider Power Station construction whilst also providing much needed improvements to the existing highway.”
Sections of the road, including some of the sharp bends, will now be widened to allow safer movement of vehicles, particularly HGVs, with a new surface also put in place to improve its quality and extend its lifespan.
In addition, a temporary construction compound will also be installed to handle the materials removed from the existing road and recycle them to construct the new road.
Up to 95% of material would be reused, reducing the need to bring in and dispose of materials, with a site being proposed alongside the A5025 near Cefn Coch for this purpose.