Residents oppose rock removal plan (From Free Press Series)

Residents oppose rock removal plan

1:56pm Thursday 29th June 2006 in Pontypool news

LOCAL residents have vowed to fight plans to remove thousands of tonnes of rock from a former opencast mine in Torfaen.

Over 50 people from Pantygasseg Residents Association, Hafodyrynys and a number of Cllrs from Caerphilly Council filled the Plas-Y-Coed Inn, in Pantygasseg for a meeting with Torfaen planning chiefs last week.

They raised their concerns about the application, submitted by Peakman Ltd, proposing to salvage sandstone rock from the Tirpentwys cut.

The residents said they are all opposing the application, which if approved will see lorries removing stone which will be used as aggregate for roads.

Alf Creed, secretary of Hafodyrynys residents association said: "This isn't the end of the fight, it is just the beginning."

Local Cllr Yvonne Warren explained she called the meeting with Duncan Smith, director for the department of the environment and Neil Boardman, senior planning officer to give residents a clear understanding of the plans and an opportunity to raise questions.

The meeting heard how Peakman Ltd originally submitted an application in 2003 to quarry land at Tirpentwys, with plans to access the area through the village of Abersychan via the B4246.

The company recently submitted a supplementary environmental study suggesting a revised route for traffic, which will see lorries travel along a newly constructed road to join with the old Crumlin Road which joins the A472.

Mr Smith assured the concerned residents that it would be some months before a recommendation would be put to the council's planning committee and local people would have the opportunity to voice their opinions.

Objectors spoke of their concerns about the noise, disruption and pollution the scheme will cause if given the go-ahead.

They questioned how the applicant proposed to get machinery to the site in order to construct the new access road and what effect the increase in the volume of traffic using roads, particularly in Hafodyrynys.

Two public exhibitions outlining the application will be held today from 3pm to 8pm at Tranch Hall, Wainfelin, and in a caravan near the cattle grid at the entrance to Pantygasseg.