Council takes next steps to invest in new carbon-free heat scheme
COUNCILLORS have approved a new loans policy in support of a low-cost, carbon-free heating scheme in Bridgend.
Members of Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) voted in favour of increasing loans to third parties so the council can invest in a special purpose vehicle (SPV), or separate company, to deliver the Bridgend Town Heat Network.
The Bridgend Town Heat Network is a scheme which aims to heat buildings across the borough in an environmentallyfriendly way.
The council approved a policy within its latest capital strategy to increase the amount of money it loans to third parties for the purpose of capital expenditure from £1 million to £2 million with the aim of supporting the heat network.
Labour councillor Paul Davies, who represents Caerau, said going ahead with the Bridgend Heat Network would be “just scratching the surface” of the climate emergency.
“We’ve got a climate emergency apparently, so the experts tell us, they reckon it would cost trillions to get to where we need to go to get to zero carbon.
“You look around, you’ve got cars everywhere, you’ve got planes lining the sky, you’ve got boats pumping our carbon. It’s everywhere.
“How are we going to get to zero carbon without starting somewhere and these are the schemes where you start and you build up from there. There’s no other way of doing it as far as I can see and ambition is the thing we need.”
Councillors approved the 2020 to 2031 capital strategy during a virtual meeting on Wednesday February 24, with 35 votes for, 14 abstentions and one vote against the new policy.
The council’s capital programme for 2020-31 states the Bridgend Heat Scheme will cost at total of £500,000.
The UK Government gave the council a £1.25 million grant towards the heat network in August 2021.
The first phase of the heat network project aims to have a combined heat and power boiler up and running at Bridgend Life Centre by 2022.
This will heat the Life Centre, Bowls Hall, and Civic Centre through a new system of distribution pipes, which take excess heat from a combined heat and power plant and thermal storage facility.
The second phase of the plans will use this system to heat Princess of Wales Hospital, Glanrhyd Hospital, and the Wildmill Estate
Multiple schools, houses in Brackla, the Parc Afon Ewenny development, South Wales Police Headquarters, and industrial parks could also benefit from the scheme thereafter.
Council leader Huw David said the local authority must establish an SPV in order to receive a £1.25 million grant from the UK Government for the heat scheme.
“I’m sure one thing we can all agree on in this chamber is none of us want to send any money back to London. It’s an investment that we want to see in the town of Bridgend.”
Cllr David also said the heat scheme is part of the council’s decarbonisation agenda and response to “extreme weather” and flooding, as seen in
Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Conservative councillor Lyn Walters asked where the council will find the expertise to run the company.
The Oldcastle representative said: “It’s an incredibly cut throat business. The thought that Bridgend has staff who are able to do that is pushing it in my mind.”
Ms Lewis said the council will have “some element of control” over the investment in the heat scheme and measures will be taken against money not being reinvested in the council.
She added that there is “an element of risk” in the project “as there is with any loan” and the SPV which delivers the project will be “closely linked “to the council and have representation from the local authority.
Cllr Julia Williams, independent representative for Hendre, said she had a “bee in [her] bonnet” about the money spent by the council on consultants.
“Although the budget has gone through today, all of us and I’m sure that my friends in the Labour group as well, they don’t want to put up council tax, we know this, but unfortunately council tax has gone up and some of my constituents in Hendre can barely afford to feed their children let alone pay any more council tax.
“We’re talking about spending thousands of pounds on advisors and consultants about some heat project and quite honestly, the heat projects that we’ve done in the past haven’t been exactly successful.
“Let’s get this year over this first – we’re just coming out of one of the worst things that have happened in my lifetime shouldn’t . we be looking at what we’re doing today and not worrying about what we’re doing tomorrow?
“Just for now – I know we have to look ahead but to spend thousands of pounds on something like this when some people cannot afford to put food in front of their children.”
The UK Government is investing around £320 million in heat networks across England and Wales up to March 2022.
Cardiff council received £6.6 million in August 2020 for the Cardiff Heat Network which will heat buildings in the Cardiff Bay area from a local waste plant via underground pipes.
Corporate director for communities Janine Nightingale said the Bridgend heat network forms part of the council’s decarbonisation strategy for 2030 and similar schemes in the UK “have been very successful”.
She said council officers will present a “detailed report” on the heat scheme to cabinet members on Tuesday, March 9.
The council must spend around £240,000 on preparing for construction of the project and select a company to design, build, and maintain the network by the end of March.
“We have not committed any money for any expenditure yet that will be subject to another cabinet process and another approval,” said Ms Nightingale.
“This is not about creating profit, this is about creating a sustainable decarbonisation district heat network for Bridgend and hopefully if we get success in phase one, which is very much our ambition, we can move that district heat into phases two and three and really get some momentum behind it.”
She added the council’s energy schemes are funded by central government rather than council funds.
“Just because the money comes from somewhere else, in my opinion doesn’t make it right,” said Cllr Williams,
“Money is going on projects which in my opinion are a complete waste of money while other projects are underfunded.
“We should be one council and if there’s money over in one department it goes into another. I’m just exasperated by it.”
Chief executive Mark Shephard said public sector funding is “not quite joined up” in the way Cllr Williams would like it to be.
Mr Shephard said refusing the funding from Welsh Government for the heat network would not help Cllr Williams’ constituents because “some other authority would grab that money instead”.
“While I have an enormous amount of sympathy for some of the perhaps failings of the public sector in seemingly having different aims and different objectives in this particular case it isn’t a case of if we didn’t take the money we could spend it on something else.”
Cllr Richard Young, cabinet member for communities, said the council alone does not have the expertise to run the heat scheme, which is why another company will be required to do so.
“We have to go outside the authority to get that expertise so that we don’t waste money and we do actually follow these projects and get the full benefit from them for the people who live in Bridgend county borough.
“The opportunity here is too good to miss. We have not failed in any of the projects we’ve brought forward or announced within the council.”
Cllr Young said the use of an SPV is “probably new for Bridgend” but “other local authorities have formed SPVs for various things”.
“It’s simply an arm’s length company to give us the ability to provide a service to the people of Bridgend that I think is sorely needed.
“It’s part of our 2030 agenda so it is linked to our carbon reduction strategy.”
Matthew Voisey, also a Conservative councillor for Oldcastle, said the council has not had “a great track record in any of the energy projects” it has been involved in.
Cllr Voisey asked for reassurance that the heat scheme will not be “just another white elephant that costs the council tax payer”.
“I’m assuming that we know that the life centre hasn’t got a 40-year life left in it? I just don’t seem to have a huge degree of confidence in this project and would like to see more information rather than just signing off now a couple of lines in a budget programme.”
Ms Nightingale said the council’s other heat schemes are “demonstrating new innovative technology” and it is too soon to judge whether they have been successful as they have not yet been fully implemented.
“In Scotland they’re very well advanced with their district heat networks, dare I say they’re probably leading the field.”
Cllr Young said: “The Caerau mine water for instance is not dead, there will be a mine water element to that project, it’s just that we have expanded it to take in other forms.
“In the words of the old A-Level exam, we can compare and contrast to see what is more efficient and where we need to go in the future to build the economy and to build the infrastructure that supports that economy.”
WALES has a huge variety of three-bed semi-detached family homes that make up a significant chunk of its housing stock.
From period properties over 100 years old to distinctive mid-century homes, from classic 1920s and 30s bay fronted houses to more recent new builds – the choice spans all decades and all property tastes.
There are only a few semi-detached houses on the market that can claim to be in the sub-category of a three-bed semi with incredible sea views.
But this pretty blue home on the hillside above the pretty blue coastline of Vale of Glamorgan can definitely stake a claim for this – and it’s a pretty spectacular one too.
The property is part of the Ocean View development constructed by David Wilson Homes in the popular coastal village of Ogmore-by-Sea in 2015 onwards.
Nestled on the cliff above the sweeping sands of a beautiful beach, the village has been an attractive and sought-after place to visit and also buy property over the years.
As part of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast the beach at Ogmore is said to be one of the cleanest in the region.
The village can offer toilet facilities, shops and places to eat, as well as the ruins of historic Ogmore Castle, overlooking the river that runs onto the sands at the end of the valley.
The adjacent coastline also incorporates the truly stunning sand dune area known as Merthyr Mawr, also the name of the tiny hamlet home to pictureperfect pretty thatch cottages and a historic church.
The sand dunes are a nature reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and includes the 200 foot sand dune called The Big Dipper, which is said to be the first or second biggest of its kind in Europe.
So the location of Ogmore is an attractive mix of stunning coast surrounded by countryside, but only a few miles from wider facilities at the town of Bridgend, plus Cardiff and Swansea are both only about 24 miles away.
No wonder then that Ogmore-by-Sea is a sought-after area, where property prices are significantly above average.
According to property portal Zoopla, in the last 12 months houses prices in the village have increased by approximately 5.8%, which equates to £21,516.
The current average property value in OgmoreBy-Sea is £390,473, compared to the Wales’ figure of £199,113.
Even when you take into consideration that the figures for Ogmore are skewed by the inclusion of five detached homes, two semis, only one flat and no terraced houses at all, so the average is bound to be higher, that’s still a considerable difference.
There were only eight properties sold in the village and close surrounding area during the last 12 months, and only two of those have been classed as semi-detached properties.
This pretty pastel property is a three bed-semi detached home that offers a side driveway for two cars but when you’re parking it’s going to be a challenge not to be distracted by the glimpses of the sea beyond the fence.
This hillside location means even the cars get a fabulous sea view.
The front garden greets you with a classic white picket fence before you enter this lovely contemporary home.
After passing a handy downstairs cloakroom, the next room is the lounge, a sizeable and sociable space that can easily fit two comfortable sofas and storage, perfect for a growing family.
Into the kitchen diner at the rear and the first glimpse of the glistening sea that fills the view from the French doors and the window.
What a spot to do the dishes, with the kitchen sink directly under the window.
It might take some time to push through the washing up though, as the panoramic view of waves, seagulls, weather and spectacular sunsets provides constant and mesmerising entertainment outside.
Then out to the landscaped, coastal inspired garden and the best neighbour many house hunters could hope to find; the ocean stretching out to the horizon.
Imagine relaxing on the sunny terrace sipping a drink or enjoying a leisurely weekend brunch accompanied by a virtually uninterrupted sea view at the end of the garden.
Upstairs the house has three bedrooms, the master has the bonus of an ensuite, plus a family bathroom.
The interior design throughout the home is modern and as fresh as the sea breezes that surely must waft in through the French doors directly from the coast.
There are elements that pay homage to the seaside location too, with accents of tones of blue and feature driftwood accessories.
There are touches of grey too, that remind you that even on an overcast weather day, a coastal location has an incredible view to offer, watching the grey sea roar and the storm clouds gather above.
The use of nature inspired materials, especially wood floors, worktops and tiling that is wood-grain inspired, also connects the inside of this comfortable home to the outdoors.
As you would expect from a house under 10 years old, there’s no renovation required here, just put your feet up on the patio and partake of those wonderful sea views at your leisure.
■ The semi with the sea view is for sale for £284,500 with estate agent Hrt, call their Cowbridge branch on 01446 772911 to find out more.
A MAN caught with a sawn-off shotgun in his house told police he was only “holding” the weapon for drug dealers to whom he owed a debt, a court heard.
When police went to Curtis Dean Morgan’s house just yards from a Swansea University campus they found the shortened gun in a cupboard in the hallway.
Robin Rouch, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that in November last year police were contacted by a support worker in the Bridgend area who was concerned about disclosures a client had made about her former partner and his possession of a firearm.
Officers went to Morgan’s home in Crymlyn Burrows opposite Swansea University’s Bay Campus and searched the property. In a cupboard in the hallway they found a Webley & Scott bolt action shotgun which had had its barrel and stock shortened. Tests by a South Wales Police expert showed the gun was in working order.
In his interview the 30-year-old said he was only “holding” the weapon for a drug dealer to whom he owed money.
Morgan, of Elba Crescent, Crymlyn Burrows, Neath, admitted possession of a shortened firetold Morgan he had been arm and possessing a found in possession of a firearm while prohibited “horrible” weapon and from doing so due to his said though it may be apprevious convictions. propriate to have “a de
The court heard he has gree of scepticism” about previous convictions on the defendant’s claim that his record for violence, he was only holding it for dishonesty matters, posa drug dealer, he would session of drugs, robbery, be faithful to that plea in possession of offensive sentence. weapons, harassment, He said: “It is this and arson. court’s, and I dare say oth
James Hartson, for Morer courts’, experience that gan, acknowledged there such weapons are used “can never be any lawful only for criminal purpospurpose” for possessing a es.” sawn-off shotgun and he Giving the defendant a asked the court to have one-third discount for his in mind the principle of guilty pleas the judge sentotality – the overall total tenced him to a total of six sentence – when deciding years in prison. Morgan on the appropriate term to will serve up to half the be served. period in custody before
Judge Paul Thomas QC being released on licence.