Dumped woodchip still at site
THOUSANDS of tonnes of illegally-dumped woodchip remain on the site of the former Llynfi Valley Power Station near Maesteg, despite attempts to get it removed by the end of April.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) had served an enforcement notice on South Wales Wood Recycling requiring the company to remove all of the waste off site by April 29.
But, after a member of the public came to the Glamorgan Gazette with pictures showing the woodchip remains, NRW revealed South Wales Wood Recycling had successfully appealed against the enforcement notice.
Chris Thomas, environ- ment officer for NRW, said the body is “now considering our legal response”.
He added: “In the meantime, the local authority, under different regulations, has issued a notice for the company to remove the waste by September 16.
“To reduce the risk of fire, the woodchip has been moved on site on the advice of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.”
The woodchip was first dumped on the disused site in Llangynwyd in December. Also that month, Bridgend County Borough Council received what it later termed “a retrospective planning application from Green Renewable Wales for the temporary delivery and permanent storage of up to 15,000 tonnes of uncovered clean woodchip”.
This application was subsequently refused on February 11 because it was deemed an “undesirable land use” and that there was insufficient detail to gauge the environmental implications.
In January, NRW said the woodchip, piled on the site next to the A4063, posed “an immediate fire risk” and in March the piles caught fire and burned for almost two weeks.
People living in the area, particularly in Bettws, claimed the fumes caused coughs and headaches.
A local resident, who does not wish to be named, claimed “not one barrel full” of woodchip had been moved and he and fellow residents are concerned about the potential environmental impact.
Nobody from South Wales Wood Recycling was available for comment.