The headlines for those of you who don’t have time for the detail: (scroll on down if you do!)
- On the gas-fired peaking plant application: PEDW (the Welsh Government Inspectorate) have asked Jones Brothers to answer some difficult questions before the planning investigation can proceed. This is good news as they've picked up on many of the issues we raised in our objections document. PEDW have also decided to hold public hearings on some of the key issues – something we had requested. The existing suspension period is being extended - Jones Brothers now have until 5th September to liaise with the Local Authority and respond to air pollution matters, meaning there will then be a 5-week period (ending October 24) for us to submit our responses.
- On Caernarfon Lân's objections documents: We have submitted our objections documents on both applications to both PEDW and Gwynedd Council (switching the main document and appendix for each one), meaning that both assessments must now consider both applications.
- On the concrete-crushing application: Some people have had problems submitting comments via the Gwynedd Council portal; so we requested an extension to the consultation period. We didn’t hear back on whether this was granted, but it may still be possible to submit comments so please try to do so if you haven’t already – either through the website or by emailing CYNLLUNIO@gwynedd.llyw.cymru .
More detail on the headlines:
The gas-fired plant application…..
As those of you who put comments in on the application will be aware, PEDW, the Welsh Government Inspectorate who are assessing the gas plant proposals, have decided to suspend their investigation and have put some difficult questions to Jones Brothers requiring clarification and comment. The majority of those issues reflect the concerns that we have covered in our objection documents. PEDW have also decided, subject to the responses they receive to their questions, in favour of public hearings on the following topics :
• Topic 1: Noise
• Topic 2: Air quality
• Topic 3: Flood risk •
Topic 4: Planning conditions
Your Committee will, of course, attend all the hearings, as can all of you, and we will shortly discuss with our Barrister which of the four we should ask to be actually involved in.
Both of our Caernarfon Lân Objections to the two applications have now been submitted: the first to PEDW and the second to Gwynedd Council Planning Department.
We have obliged both Gwynedd Council and PEDW to take note of both applications. We have done that, by switching over and cross referencing the Main Document and Appendix 1 in the two submissions. This was important because Jones Brothers are applying to put both these highly polluting plants right next to each other on the same site and we do not believe that those assessing the applications should ignore the very serious issue of the combined polluting effects of the two.
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Extension of suspension period
We received a letter from PEDW dated 09/08 stating that an Inspector, Claire MacFarlane, has been appointed to oversee the examination of this project. The examination process is currently suspended to allow the applicant, Seiont Ltd, to address concerns about air pollution raised by the Planning Inspectorate.
The suspension period is extended to allow Seiont Ltd to gather and submit additional information regarding air pollution: the new deadline for submitting this information is Thursday, September 5, 2024. After submission, a 5-week public consultation period will follow, during which other parties can provide their comments.
The additional information and public comments will be made available on the Planning Casework Portal. The public will have until October 24, 2024, to submit their comments. We are seeking academic experts who can speak authoritatively on air pollution to help us look at, and respond to, the additional information that they provide - please get in touch with us if you are able to help!
Problems submitting comments on Gwynedd Council's portal
There have been issues regarding people's ability to submit their comments concerning the concrete processing and traffic change proposals on the Gwynedd Council portal.
If any of you have tried to submit comments and either failed or succeeded, it would be extremely helpful if you could let us know how it went for you and whether you succeeded or not.
As we have had no response on the question of an extension, it may still be possible to enter comments on the website; so do please have a go if you haven’t done so already and, if it doesn’t work, please email your comments to CYNLLUNIO@gwynedd.llyw.cymru .
If anyone has a particular question or would like more detail on the email exchanges that the committee has been involved in concerning the two applications, please don’t hesitate to let us know by responding to this email and we’ll get back to you with answers as quickly as we can. In any case we will, of course, continue to update you all as things progress.