Plans to extend Craig yr Hesg quarry near Pontypridd and allow it to keep going for several more years have been allowed on appeal despite objections from residents and the council. Appeals against decisions to refuse the applications have been allowed by an inspector from PEDW (Planning and Environment Decisions Wales), subject to conditions, and the minister for climate change, Julie James, has agreed with the outcomes.
Hanson UK, which runs the quarry, had applied for a western extension of the quarry in Glyncoch to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council but the planning committee unanimously refused the plans in February, 2020 with more than 400 people objecting to them at the time. The plans involve an extra 10 million tonnes of pennant sandstone being quarried, a screening bund, an extension of the end date for quarrying and an overall restoration scheme.
The 37 hectare site is 1km north of Pontypridd and the plan was to expand the site by over 11 hectares. Main concerns with the plans were related to noise, vibration and blasting from the site, the impact on air quality, the distance between the quarrying and residential areas, the impact on local roads and the effect on ecology and the countryside. You can get more Pontypridd news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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The reasons put forward for expansion were because reserves of sandstone at the quarry were running low and the site was seen by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council in its Local Development Plan as a preferred area for future quarrying. Cefn Yr Hesg is said in the application to be the “only realistic prospect” of providing the reserves of the pennant sandstone needed and that sandstone is a rock which is of UK importance for its use in specialist road surfaces.
Hanson also applied for permission to extend quarrying at Craig yr Hesg quarry in Glyncoch until 2028 from the current deadline of 2022 with restoration to be completed by the end of 2030 instead of the end of 2024, and to extend the deadlines to remove all plant and machinery and residual stocks of material and to submit a final restoration plan by six years also. But Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s planning committee voted to refuse it against officer recommendations at a meeting in August, 2021, due to the impact of blasting and dust on people’s health and well-being.
The comments made by the inspector
In the inspector’s report, it said: “There is considerable local opposition to the proposed development, which is evident from the written representations and the submissions made at the Inquiry, but also sizeable support for the scheme. One of the aims of national planning policy is to strengthen local decision making.
“However, local opposition or support for a proposal is not in itself a grounds for refusing or granting planning permission, unless it is founded upon valid planning reasons. The application therefore falls to be determined on its planning merits.” The inspector quoted Planning Policy Wales which said: “Any effects on local communities and the environment must be minimised to an acceptable standard”, and the inspector said: “Therefore, an acceptable proposal need not necessarily result in no harm, or even no ‘net’ harm.”
The inspector added: “It is common ground that there would be no material harm in respect of the landscape character and appearance of the area, which is neutral in the final balance. I also found no significant harm in terms of road safety or blasting and vibration. Whilst I found some limited harm to local amenity, in terms of operational noise and air quality, during the construction of the landscaping bund, this would not be a significant adverse risk to be contrary to the LDP. The proposed conditions would adequately limit any amenity impacts to an acceptable standard.
“The overall benefit for biodiversity would be a consideration attracting moderate weight in favour of the proposed development in the planning balance. The increased access to the countryside and provision of Public Rights of Way also attracts substantial weight.” The inspector said the quarry was one of the highest quality sources of skid resistant surfacing aggregate not only in south Wales, but the UK.
“From the evidence before me there is a likely national need for this mineral and this should be accorded significant weight for allowing the appeal and within this I also include the economic benefits. Whilst I acknowledge the need to make greater use of secondary aggregate and that alternative sites may come forward in the future, I do not find that the ‘significant weight’ afforded to the need for the mineral should be reduced. Decision makers must determine planning applications in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.”
The inspector added: “Overall, I find that the proposed developments would accord with the development plan when considered as a whole. For the reasons given above and having regard to all other matters raised in evidence, I conclude that the appeals should be allowed. In reaching these conclusions, I have taken into account the requirements of sections 3 and 5 of the Well Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.”
Minister agrees with inspector’s findings
In agreeing with the findings of the inspector, Welsh minister Julie James said in her decision letter: “The decisions take account of the need to assist in ensuring the supply of a valuable mineral resource, which is used on road surfacing construction and maintenance in Wales and across the UK.” She later added: “The decisions would prevent an under supply of a valuable aggregate, which has a limited geographical distribution, and is important economically through its use on roads and similar surfaces in Wales and throughout the UK.”
The response from local councillors and a member of the Senedd
Plaid Cymru RCT councillor for Pontypridd, town councillor Dawn Wood, and Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central, Heledd Fychan, expressed their anger and disappointment at the decision. The two Pontypridd town councillors spoke on behalf of local residents during the appeal hearing earlier this year and said they had consistently opposed the proposals, with Heledd Fychan speaking at a number of RCT Council planning meetings when she was a county councillor.
They said they shared the concerns of local residents who felt strongly that it was time to close the quarry, given the impact it was having on nearby communities. They said the proximity of the quarry itself to the homes of residents and community facilities, including a local school, was of concern as well as the impact the traffic related to the quarry was having on the residents of Berw Road.
Heledd Fychan MS said: “The views and experiences of residents are real. Over a number of years, they have shared with me their concerns about cracks appearing in their homes after hearing loud blasts and feeling vibrations from the quarry. They have also expressed concerns about seeing large clouds of dust, with residue left on nearby cars and properties, as well as the negative impact the lorries from the quarry are having on their lives.
“Given that we are in a climate emergency, I find it astounding that a minister for climate change can overturn the decision of the local council so that minerals can be quarried for the building of roads. This decision clearly demonstrates a need to introduce a clean air act in Wales as a matter of urgency, and update our planning regulations to adequately reflect the climate emergency as well as the Future Generations Act.
Cllr Wood claimed: “Given that in Wales, we have a Well-being for Future Generations Act which embeds public consultation as a main objective and a greener, cleaner future for all, this decision by Julie James, the minister for climate change, is shocking. The lived experience of residents is that noise, dust, and air pollution as well as the frequent blasts and quakes which leave cracks and voids under properties and constant observation for damage is affecting their mental health and physical health on a daily basis. It is wrong that they will continue to suffer because of this decision.”
Councillor Mike Powell, independent councillor for the Trallwn ward, said: “I’m obviously very disappointed by the decision having opposed it on highway and emissions grounds which affect the residents of my ward. Hopefully the Welsh Government will now look at funding a cross valley link from Glyncoch to Cilfynydd to alleviate the already dire congestion in the Pontypridd area as a matter of urgency.”
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