Opposition to sewage plans

Aug 28 2002 By Elgan Hearn, Holyhead And Anglesey Mail

A STORM of protest has erupted in Holyhead, as county councillors were greeted by hundreds of angry residents when they visited the proposed site of a sewage pumping station on the Penrhos Industrial Estate.

Councillors faced a barrage of vitriol as they walked around the proposed site of the station which would cost applicants Welsh Water an estimated £25 million to build.

Protestors ran up to their bus waving placards and posters accentuating their disgust at the idea of building a sewage treatment works near houses, schools, and a hospital.

Several councillors representing Holyhead wards sit on Ynys Môn Council's planning committee, but are not allowed to comment on the plans.

Protesters, who met at the Phoenix Nightclub, wanted to present a petition of over 1,200 signatures opposing the proposals to the visiting councillors but were not given the opportunity.

The bus, which carried the councillors and council officers, swept them back to Llangefni, before the concerned residents were given the opportunity to present them with the petition.

Several residents had gathered these signatures in less than days, as they said the council had not given them much notice about the site visit.

Cllr Keith Thomas said: "The councillors walked around inspecting the site, but they are not allowed to discuss the planning application today as the matter will be dealt with in the next council planning committee, next month.

Protester Tracey Laverty, said: "Why can't they put it somewhere else?

"We have received Objective One money to develop the industrial estate, bringing more investment into the town.

"Firms won't come to the estate with a sewage plant next door, they would not want to work with the smell in the area, and we need jobs here

"There are three schools nearby, a hospital, and one of the biggest housing estates in Wales, we could suffer health problems, and we all know that the councillors making the decisions would never put a sewerage plant where they live."

Holyhead Town councillor Jeff Evans said: "It's an injustice to the people of Morawelon that they have not been consulted properly on this issue.

"We don't want confrontation, but consultation and co-operation and a positive response from Welsh Water.

"They have to look at alternative areas to place a sewage plant, and we must show Welsh Water that they can't impose this decision on us."

Ieuan Wyn Jones, AM for Ynys Mon, has expressed his support: "There is no doubt that a new sewage plant is needed in Holyhead, but the Penrhos site is clearly unacceptable."

A spokesman for Welsh Water, said: "This new works is essential for Holyhead.

"It will have a positive environmental and economic impact on the area.

"It takes into account the planned developments in the area to assist economic growth.

"We plan to build the new works with ongoing consultation with the liaison group and other interested parties, including local councillors and will minimise disruption to our neighbours during construction."

The spokesman added: "The proposed site has been chosen because it is in an industrial area. There are no houses nearby, the site is not of importance for nature conservation and is well screened by existing vegetation."