Rubbish transfer scheme sparks public anger

The former Takiron factory is planned as the depot

A row over a planned waste transfer station to be set up near Caerphilly has broken out on the first day of a public exhibition about the proposals.

The station will be used as a depot to move rubbish collected by refuse lorries to bigger vehicles to be taken to nearby landfill sites.

Calling it a waste transfer station is just a pretty way of calling it a rubbish heap

Raymond Davies, Bedwas Community Councillor

Planners want to use the former Takiron factory on the Pantglas Industrial Estate in Bedwas as the plant.

But people living in the area are said to be "appalled" by the proposals and a petition with more than a thousand signatures has been collected in opposition to the project.

The exhibition in the Bedwas Centre shows the plans and documents about the new facility which will be considered by the Planning Committee on 15 January.

Cabinet Member, councillor Darren Jones said: "Although no decision has been made about the proposals yet, we are concerned that there is a lot of inaccurate information circulating in the community about what a waste transfer station actually is."

Currently, the refuse lorries which serve the Caerphilly Basin area off-load at the privately run Trehir Quarry Landfill in Llanbradach.

Rubbish transferred at the station will be dumped at a tip

But alternative arrangements are needed because that site has been earmarked for closure.

But Bedwas Community Councillor Raymond Davies said that residents were extremely concerned about the proposals.

"The people have been absolutely appalled by it," he said.

Blackspot

"It is situated right opposite the main cemetery in the Caerphilly Basin and there are funeral cortèges passing by everyday.

"It is also very close to an old people's home and two local schools.

"The other thing people are concerned about is that it is in a black spot for congestion.

"People travelling from the Rhondda and Rhymney Valleys use this route and at peak times it is very busy there.

"A petition with about 1,100 signatures opposing this has been collected and we intend handing it over to the Head of Planning on Friday.

"Everybody is up in arms over this because it seems like the council have made their decision before properly consulting the public.

"Calling it a waste transfer station is just a pretty way of calling it a rubbish heap, which is what people know it is going to be," he added.

The exhibition on the scheme will be held in Bedwas Centre this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 1000 GMT to 1200 GMT and 1600 GMT and 1800 GMT.