Members of one local community have said they are “appalled” at the words of the Deputy First Minister over a “toxic” quarry during a recent debate on the impact of Wales’s industrial landscape.
Councillors for Ynysddu ward Janine Reed and Jan Jones have described themselves as “flabbergasted” by the urging of Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca Davies for all other local authorities to “follow the example set by Caerphilly” when it comes to the way they have handled the Ty Llwyd Quarry.
Ynysddu councillors Janine Reed and Jan Jones say they are appalled at Deputy First Minister Huw Iranacca Davies’ recent comments on the Ty Llwyd Quarry (Image: Supplied) During a short debate in the Senedd surrounding industrial pollution and the direct impact of the country’s industrial legacy on national landscapes on Wednesday, November 27, Mr Irranca Davies said: “I would encourage, all local authorities in Wales to follow this example set by Caerphilly to regularly review and, where necessary, assess those sites that may potentially cause harm or environmental pollution.”
Cllr Reed has said she is amazed that Mr Irranca Davies has seemingly forgotten Caerphilly Council was issued a statutory warning this April and a warning letter last July about pollution from the quarry onto a public highway.
This follows after contaminated leachate water was seen running down the mountain just a few months ago.
She said: “The minister seems to have forgotten that CCBC were issued a statutory warning in April this year and a warning letter last July for allowing pollution from Ty Llwyd Quarry onto a public highway, by Natural Resources Wales.
“He’s also forgotten the high levels of hazardous PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) found by Dr Megson from Manchester University in an area of community woodland where children play – this was featured in the recent Radio 4 series The Last Witness.”
The toxic Ty Llwyd Quarry is potentially causing an environmental problem (Image: Supplied) According to Cllr Reed and her colleague Cllr Jan Jones, the previous chief executive of Caerphilly Council organised meetings with her environmental department but refused to respond to emails and freedom of information requests from them both concerning the quarry.
The councillors say they have also had any direct contact with the council officers reduced to going through the environmental director’s secretary, as well as seeing their plans to have the minutes from a recent meeting in October attended by four Senedd members published blocked.
Cllr Jones has claimed she believes that Caerphilly Council are often “making up the rules as they go along”.
She said: “The Minister Irranca Davies is mis-informed – local residents are outraged by his comments and he should meet directly with residents who live in the shadow of this toxic site to hear how they feel the council are managing the quarry.”
Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca Davies (Image: Senedd) The councillors are not the only ones who are concerned about this alleged belief in Caerphilly Council’s environmental work and the risk this quarry is posing to the environment.
Reverend Paul Cawthorne, co-ordinator of UK toxic waste research group Save Our Severn described himself as “deeply disappointed” at the minister’s comments.
He added: “He seems so disastrously under-briefed about this Ynysddu toxic pollution matter, which is of such strong national significance, which could become an important issue for South Wales.”
The Welsh Government and Caerphilly Council were contacted for comment.