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Air pollution: Gas-fired peaking plants emit several harmful pollutants including Nitrogen Oxides (NOx). The health impacts of NOx include increases in respiratory diseases and asthma; eye, nose, and throat irritation; heart conditions; and lung damage. The Concrete processing operations will add to these pollutants, increasing the risk to people and nature through the generation of “fugitive dust” and particulates (PM10 and PM2). People living close by, patients and staff in Ysbyty Eryri, and children and adults using the rugby fields and the football pitch at Caernarfon Rugby Club will be breathing in the toxins, dust and particulates, which are especially harmful if inhaled during periods of heavy exercise.
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Noise pollution: Noise will be generated from the ten gas-fired engines and their cooling fans, from the heavy concrete crushing and processing operations on the site and from the movement of an estimated 120 lorries per day. The European Environment Agency has reported that anthropogenic noise (i.e. noise caused by human activities, such as industry) is second only to air pollution as the environmental exposure most harmful to public health.
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Access and traffic: The concrete crushing plant proposals will lead to a permanently high flow of HGV and other traffic (1 lorry every 5 minutes, 10 hours per day, 5.5 days per week.) on all of the approach roads to the site, including on Seiont Mill Road. The HGVs will be transporting waste and reprocessed concrete to and from the crushing plant, driving through Caeathro and Muriau Park/Seiont Mill Road every day.
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Damage to ecosystems and biodiversity: Both the air and the noise pollution, mentioned above in relation to human health and well-being, will also negatively affect the soil, water, trees, plants, birds and animals in the surrounding area, damaging delicate ecosystems and leading to a loss of biodiversity.
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Contributing to climate change: The Welsh Government has a target for Wales to meet 100% of its annual electricity consumption from renewable electricity by 2035. Cyngor Gwynedd has adopted a Climate and Nature Emergency Plan with the ambition of being a net zero carbon council and ecologically positive by 2030. The proposed gas-fired peaking plant would emit greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
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Risks to the well-being of future generations: The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, requires public bodies in Wales to think about the long-term impact of their decisions, to work better with people, communities and each other, and to seek to prevent problems, such as health inequalities and the harms caused by climate change. It includes seven National Well-being Goals: a prosperous Wales, a resilient Wales, a healthier Wales, a more equal Wales, a Wales of cohesive communities, a Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language, a globally responsible Wales. The impact of Jones Brothers’ plans would be negative across all seven of these goals.
