Last Thursday, we on Neath Port Talbot planning and development committee resolved not to make an immediate recommendation on the proposed Abernedd power station, which would sit alongside the GE plant on the Baglan Energy Park. It should be noted that we cannot actually decide on planning applications for power stations rated at above 50 megawatt capacity, but we have to be consulted by law. Our reservations related to groundwater pollution, and it seemed to make sense – on a proposal from Cllr Juliet Hopkins – to wait for a meeting between the council and the Department of Energy, scheduled for 20th April,  concerning that, before we made a final recommendation.

The most potent arguments against the station are unfortunately not for consideration by the council. We cannot consider the effects on the climate, or many other factors detailed in the Evening Post report and the attached comments. I could add that there must be worries about security of supply by positioning two large power stations next to each other.

However, objections can still be addressed to the Department of Energy and Climate Change in London.

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