NRW issues new enforcement notice at Withyhedge

NATURAL Resources Wales (NRW) has taken further enforcement action at Withycollect landfill gases ap

hedge Landfill in Pempear to have been com

brokeshire, setting out pleted, the site operator

the urgent steps its has identified further are

operators must take as of the site which could

nd

to address the site’s be causing problems.

ongoing odour and RML submitted their

landfill gas emission plans to resolve these is

issues. sues last week.

NRW has issued site The proposed soluoperators Resources tions informed the acManagement UK Ltd tions included in a new (RML) with a further S36 notice issued last Regulation 36 Enforceweek. ment Notice, which reThe new enforcement quires the operator to activity requires the opdeliver a series of acerator to deliver the adtions by specified deadditional steps they need lines – the first due to be to take. achieved by April 21. If the actions outlined

The actions include in this new Notice are not implementing measures complied with, NRW will relating to gas managenot hesitate to take furment infrastructure, further action. The Welsh ther capping areas of the Government agency will site, and improving interconsider all the regulatoim cover arrangements ry tools available, includas the work progresses. ing issuing a Section 37

Each step outlined in suspension notice. the Notice must be comA Section 37 Notice pleted by May 14. would end operations at

However, the NoWithyhedge tice stipulates that most Huwel Manley, Head works must be completof South West Operaed before May 8. tions, NRW, said: “NRW

The measures are is taking additional enintended to address the forcement action to enodour issues experisure RML Ltd. takes the enced by communities urgent action they have surrounding the site. identified needed to con

Although actions set trol the odour issues at out in the Section 36 NoWithyhedge Landfill. tice issued in February to “We fully understand prepare and cap a waste the growing discontent cell and install gas infrafrom the affected comstructure to contain and munities, and we feel that it is unacceptable for residents and visitors to the area to continue to be affected by these odour and landfill gas emissions.

“We want to reassure everyone that we are committed to ensuring RML Ltd. deliver the actions they have identified and that they work quickly to resolve this issue.

“While the pressing work required by the operator progresses over the coming days and weeks, the site remains under investigation, and we will continue our regulatory presence.

“Nothing is off the table. If the series of actions required in this Notice are not complied with, we will have no hesitation to take further enforcement action, considering every option available to us under the regulations, including suspending the environmental permit if appropriate.”

Will Bramble, Pembrokeshire County Council Chief Executive, said: “We are extremely disappointed that RML, the company managing the Withyhedge landfill site, has not delivered the necessary action to stop the completely unacceptable odour emissions.

“We fully support NRW’s additional enforcement action and continue to work closely with them to correct the situation.

“We also support NRW’s intent to take further action should it fail to meet the May 14 deadline, including considering suspending the permit.

“Geotechnology is monitoring under the direction of the air quality cell and liaising directly with residents affected.

“We will ensure the data is made available to the public at the earliest opportunity.”

The controversy over £200,000 in donations to Vaughan Gething’s Labour leadership campaign by companies linked to Withyhedge and a further substantial personal donation by company director David Neal continues to dog Wales’s new First Minister.

As revelations continue to bubble up from under the cap that Mr Gething has tried placing on them, the smell from Withyhedge has reached Cardiff Bay. It is beginning to stink out the Senedd.

More details of that story are elsewhere in this week’s Herald.

NRW requests that instances of odour from the landfill continue to be reported via this dedicated form: https://bit.ly/ reportasmellwithyhedge.