Questions and Answers from Public Meeting 9 July 2008
Q What is the projected output of Coedbach Power Station?
A The projected output is just below 50mw, over 50mw requires a different legislation. Power Stations are very inefficient and 150mw of energy input is required to produce 50mw output. The rest is waste heat and emissions.
Q What type of boiler will they use?
A There are two types specified. Option 1 is a boiler which is suited purely to wood, the second will burn a wider variety of materials eg industrial, household waste, wood waste, in fact a whole range of materials.
Q Have you done any research on Lockerbie?
A Yes, we have had conversations with them. The situation of Lockerbie is:
- no population closeby
- it is in an area surrounded by forest
- no import of fuel is needed, all will be local wood
- it is next to a motorway, road connections are excellent
Q If the power station is equal to an 11 storey building, has the local airfield made any complaints?
A Yes they have sent a letter of objection to Eifion Bowen
Q What are the arrangements for disposal of hazardous waste; what are the plans to get the waste into the lorries and away?
A We have found that power station’s ash is classified as hazardous waste because of its heavy metal content. The nearest site for disposal of hazardous materials is
Q How many trains a week are we talking about?
A The applicant states two trains a day bringing in 75% of the fuel. However, we believe the line is in a flood zone; we have concerns that rail deliveries may not be viable and therefore everything would need to come in by road.
Q What has been done about noise pollution?
A There is no operational noise measurement in the Environmental Impact Assessment; however we understand that Power Stations are very noisy.
Q Surely the whole project is in conflict with Ffos Las?
A Yes, we feel that this application is in contradiction with the heavy investment in tourism and leisure.
Q It was on the news last week that the increase in the price of food is caused by the need to grow power/bio fuel crops. It said power crops are responsible for 75% of food shortages.
A Yes, and this is at a time when the population of the world is reported to be increasing from 6 billion to 9 billion in the next few years so it seems ridiculous to convert land to grow bio fuel and biomass.
Q I think it is fair to say that for the power station to be truly carbon neutral it needs to bring its fuel from no more than 15-20 miles away. This would imply that the Gwendreath Valley, Kidwelly to Cross Hands would be planted with willow, poplar, and the like, and this would in turn have wildlife implications. Bringing in wood from
A We agree. Calculations on growing area required for 125,000 tonnes is 65 sq km a year of wood.
Q What are you going to do to stop it? Has Carmarthen County Council got the decision or is the decision being made higher up, the Assembly or Government?
A The decision making authority is with Carmarthenshire County Council. A recommendation has already been made by Eifion Bowen, Head of Planning to approve this project. We are contesting that recommendation.
Q If they run out of available biomass to burn, will they then burn household waste?; this is my biggest concern. We can’t forest from here to
A We agree
Q If there will be say 20 jobs, bearing in mind that the people working in the power station need to be well informed, is it likely these people will come in from
A Many of the jobs will be technicians, qualified people who are likely to be incomers to the area.
Q There is a power station in
A We understand that there are 7 power stations in
Q The Environment Impact Assessment did not consider at all Coedbach Marsh area which is a prime bird site in
A We agree.
Q I worked in
A That is why we are concerned about the potential impact on our health.
Q We have to take action as a community to stop this being approved.
A If you are concerned, please write to your councillor, your MP, your AM and Eifion Bowen, Head of Planning.
Q We need our own environment survey to disprove their environment survey. Is it appropriate to have us as a village engage some organisation to challenge them?
A Response from Catherine Lloyd Jenkins; we can discuss in the next council meeting.
Q I have worked on many power stations, and I am concerned that this may increase from 50mw to something much larger.
A We are also concerned that once a precedent has been set this will open the door to other similar developments.
Q Do we really need another power station?
A Valid question. We think that the answer is no. Did you know that 70% of the country’s renewable energy target is achieved from Port Talbot and that
Q I have seen in the news that a local business man called Clive Hughes is involved in BioE. Do we know anything about this?
A Public information on BioE in Companies House shows that he has never completed a power station project. The company is three years old and has never filed company accounts.
A Yes we are setting this up.
Q Are the people of Llanelli aware of this project? They and others need to know.
A Please share and spread your concerns, we feel that this has been under publicised.
Q Is there a record of the previous meeting? I wasn’t aware it had been held.
A The developer held a meeting on 16 April 2008. We have not seen any published minutes.
Q Can we have some downloadable ‘Say No to Coedbach’ stickers in English and Welsh.
A Yes, there are stickers in English and Welsh on our web site. www.coedbach.webs.com. Car sticks are currently being printed and will be available soon.