Unity plea in sewage row

Oct 23 2002 By Elgan Hearn, Holyhead And Anglesey Mail

ISLAND MP Albert Owen has called for unity in Holyhead as the debate on where to site a £25 million sewage plant hots up.

His call comes just days after the Holyhead and Anglesey Mail was allowed to see documents which clearly show that Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water had plumped for the Penrhos Industrial Estate site well over a year ago.

Mr Owen said: "This is an important matter, which must be dealt with as soon as is practical.

"While this is a pure planning matter, I do believe that Welsh Water must make its intentions clear and Anglesey County Council must look to have a strategy in place to deal with waste and other contentious schemes such as this.

"The council's own Unitary Development Plan, soon to come into effect, suggest industrial estates where possible.

"I believe this is an appropriate way forward with proper environmental protection," he said.

"The councillors have all been well briefed and it is wrong for a situation to develop which pitches community against community."

Councillors involved in the Penrhos protests have confirmed that they had no knowledge of Welsh W ater's decision to put forward a planning application for the Penrhos Industrial Estate site before May this year.

Ynys Cybi Action Committee who have opposed Welsh Water's plans to build in the Breakwater Country Park believe the councillors should have known sooner.

The committee, which had representatives from all of Holyhead's council wards, has stated that it doesn't want to start a "slanging match" with the people of Morawelon and London Road, but says that efforts to help the Penrhos Protesters have been spurned.

Chairman Gareth Griffiths,said: " We don't want to split the town. W e have known about Welsh W ater's decision over a year ago.

"The people of Morawelon and London Road have every right to be angry, they should have been told about this a long time ago.

"If we, a small group of people, can get the information, surely county councillors can?"

London Road Councillor, Keith Thomas, said he had no knowledge of Welsh Water's intention to build a sewerage treatment works before May this year.

He said: "I was told the news at a Town Council meeting in May, although I did know that it was one of the 11 sites being considered."

W elsh Water has said that it has aimed to be entirely open with everyone about the plans for the new works, and held a public meeting in February last year, and a three-day public exhibition in the town.

A Welsh Water spokesman said: " We agreed at the meeting to look for alternative sites.

"A liaison group would be formed by the local action group to represent local people.

"We have also met the liaison group and community and county council representatives over the past 18 months.

"As a result Penrhos Industrial Estate, was found and agreed as suitable by all the parties."