A Conservative Debate calling on the Welsh Government to issue a ‘Discontinuance Order’ on the Barry Biomass plant has been passed - following a vote at Full Council on Wednesday.
As a result of the vote the Vale Council is now required to hold an independent inquiry to look at potential errors in planning decisions taken by its Planning Committee relating to the incinerator.
The Motion - tabled by the Conservative Group (see Notes to Editors) - also called on the Vale Council to consider taking enforcement action on the development.
The Debate came after news emerged that the Industry Regulator – Ofgem – has now changed its listing of the plant as “live”. The change in status puts the Incinerator in the same category as facilities such as the fully operational Margam biomass-producing plant, and means that the plant is now receiving RO subsidies.
Vale Conservative Group Leader Vincent Bailey said the vote showed that the Local Authority is “at last speaking for Barry residents”.
Speaking after Full Council he said:
“This is a significant victory for the campaign to stop the Barry Incinerator and it’s a huge relief that the Council is at last speaking for Barry residents.
“Serious mistakes have been made in allowing the incinerator to be built so close to local residents, and it’s a matter of huge regret that no Environmental Impact Assessment has ever been undertaken on the plant.
“The Vale Council has taken a collective stance to oppose the incinerator, and the pressure is now on Welsh Government to take appropriate action.
“The developers cannot be allowed to creep this plant into full production without proper planning consent, and without ever having satisfied public concerns over the damage it could do.”
Cllr Bailey is now calling for prompt action from the Council and Welsh Government, following the vote.
He said:
“Residents have been waiting for nearly two years for the Welsh Government to decide whether to impose an Environmental Impact Assessment. But they can do something much more significant now and step in with a Discontinuance Order.
“We also need to see quick movement from the Council in setting up an Independent Inquiry, so that the public can have confidence that any errors made in the determination of these applications can be addressed - and those responsible held to account.”