Plaid disappointed by Llansamlet Incinerator Appeal

Dr Dai Lloyd, Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for South Wales West and Dr Geraint Havard, Plaid Cymru candidate for Swansea East have today reacted with disappointment following the news that Biffa have appealed Swansea Council’s decision to reject planning permission for a waste incinerator in Llansamlet.

Swansea Council overwhelmingly voted to reject the planning application from the waste disposal company in May 2019 following months of campaigning which drew support from local residents and schools.

The appeal will now be heard by the Welsh Government’s Planning Inspector.

Reacting to the announcement that Biffa have appealed the rejection, Dr Lloyd stated:

“Biffa clearly have not got the message that their incinerator is not welcomed in Llansamlet, or anywhere in Swansea for that matter.

“These plans fly in the face of the Clean Air legislation, placing a waste incinerator within just a few hundred metres of Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Lon Las and hundreds of homes.

“Biffa show no regard to the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, the climate emergency or the air quality policies set by the Welsh Government, and their lack of consideration for the health of residents of Llansamlet and school children in the vicinity is hugely disappointing.”

Dr Geraint Havard, who chaired the action group against the incinerator, added:

“Residents of Llansamlet have been clear in their opposition to these proposals since they first reared their ugly head in 2018. We do not want an incinerator polluting our children while they are supposed to be learning in a safe environment at school, nor do we want our health put at risk when we are at home from the burning of 21,000 tonnes of waste just a stones throw from our homes.”