Protesters go to Europe over tip

Campaigners will travel to Brussels

Campaigners who want to see an end to landfill operations at Wrexham's Hafod quarry will take their fight to Europe.

Members of the European Parliament's Petitions Committee will hear submissions in early April.

MEP Jill Evans backs the protesters' claims who say tipping endangers a nearby special area of conservation and affects residents' quality of life.

Despite numerous challenges over recent years, landfill operations at the site in Johnstown were allowed in 2006.

Pauline Smout, who is chair of the Hafod Environmental Group, said: "We are delighted that the committee is going to hear our submissions, and a number of campaigners will be there for the hearing.

The fact that we have reached this next stage is very good news Jill Evans, MEP

"It was always clear that the process would not be a speedy one but nevertheless we have reached this point a little sooner than we might have guessed.

"Now we have now to get our case across in the time granted to us.

"And we hope that the committee will act on our submission over the designated Special Area of Conservation and its immediate surroundings," she added.

The group hope to prove that European law has been broken when they submit their petition on 2 April.

As well as opposing the permit on conservation grounds and quality of life for residents, the group also maintain work at the site is against the European Union's policy for recycling of waste material.

The site in Johnstown is now currently run by Mersey Waste Holdings.

Permit allowed

Planning permission for extraction of minerals was originally granted in 1988 - but landfill was refused at that time.

Since then, there have been a number of applications and challenges heard in the UK.

This particular challenge by the group refers to the permit which was allowed in 2004.

Plaid Cymru MEP Ms Evans said she is looking forward to welcoming the group when they visit Brussels next month.

"The fact that we have reached this next stage is very good news, especially as the Petitions Committee has been faced with an exceptionally high volume of cases in recent months.

She added: "The perseverance of the Hafod campaigners is greatly to their credit, and, of course, these are the people who have to live with this landfill site. "

No-one from Mersey Waste Holdings was available for comment.