Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

The European Commission has today announced [1] that it is taking the UK Government to court because the pollution emitted by Aberthaw power station is far above legal limits. Aberthaw - Wales’ only remaining coal-fired power station - has been pumping out more than double the legal amount of polluting nitrogen oxides for seven years [2]. Nitrogen oxides are hazardous pollutants that can cause serious problems for people with respiratory illness [3]. Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, Gareth Clubb, said: “Aberthaw has been overstepping the mark for years. It’s high time it closed down - and we very much hope that the European Court of Justice prosecution will hasten that process. “Local workers will need support to adapt. The Welsh Government should put a plan in place to develop sustainable employment that will lead to a clean and healthy future for the local community. “Wales has an important history with the coal industry. But history is where it belongs. Our green, renewable ...

A new report which shows that cockles in the Burry Inlet were not killed by pollution has been welcomed. The report published by the Environment Agency shows that the estuary is cleaner than it has ever been. The investigation, which has been ongoing for many years, has halted development and regeneration along the Llanelli coastline. It has directly led to the loss of much needed jobs and investment in the town and surrounding area. Carmarthenshire’s regeneration executive board member Cllr Clive Scourfield said it was now time that opponents to the developments accepted the findings once and for all. “We hope now that this report will finally stop the scaremongering about water quality,” Cllr Scourfield said, “and that those who have been using this issue to halt every single development in the Llanelli area and beyond will accept the reality – something we have been stressing for many years - which is that the estuary is cleaner than it has ever been. “This report clearly show...

A Swansea man has been prosecuted for carrying waste in Carmarthenshire without a licence. James Hannify was convicted at Ammanford Magistrates Court for the offence contrary to Section 1 of the Controlled Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that Hannify was stopped by police at Station Road, Brynamman, on Monday, March 22 and he did not hold a valid waste carrier’s licence. The council’s environmental enforcement officers also attended the scene. Hannify, aged 28, of Pentregethin Road, Portmead, Swansea, was given a 12 month conditional discharge by magistrates and ordered to pay £200 towards prosecution costs. The council hopes this case will now act as a warning to others. The aim is to help prevent the illegal transport of waste which can result in fly-tipping. The council’s executive board member for the environment Councillor Philip Hughes said: “All businesses that carry waste, including scrap merchants, ...

A woman has been fined for throwing dog mess in a hedge at the side of the road in Porthyrhyd. The council’s environmental enforcement officers were passing in a car at the time of the offence. They stopped and the 49-year-old was issued with a fixed penalty notice of £75 for failing to clean up after her pet. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in the magistrates court and a maximum fine of £1,000. The council’s executive board member for the environment Councillor Haydn Jones said: “The woman in question was carrying a poop scoop with her but instead of picking up her dog’s mess to dispose of responsibly; she simply threw it into the hedge at the side of the road. “Dog mess left anywhere is a serious health risk. I hope this latest fine will act as a warning to others that this type of anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and those caught breaking the law in this way will be prosecuted.” Carmarthenshire County Council is working hard to tackle the problem of dog fouling a...

A Burry Port man has been ordered to pay more than £500 by the courts for illegally carrying scrap metal. James Squires, aged 28, of Tan y Coed, was convicted in absence of an offence under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that Squires was stopped by police in Black Lion Road, Gorslas, on November 11 last year as part of a multi-agency operation targeting illicit rubbish dumpers across South West Wales. The council’s environmental enforcement officers were asked to attend the scene. Squires told officers he had already been stopped by the Environment Agency earlier that morning in Landore, Swansea. He admitted he did not have the relevant licence for transporting waste and that despite being told by the Environment Agency that he needed a waste carriers licence, he had continued to carry scrap metal. Officers sent two letters to Squires requesting that he attend a...

A Swansea man has been fined £400 by the courts and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £372.08 for illegally carrying waste. William Bryan Dean, aged 46, of Clwyd Road, Penlan, Swansea, was convicted in absence of an offence under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that on December 12 2009 the council’s environmental enforcement section was contacted by Dyfed-Powys Police who had stopped a vehicle in the Bonllwyn area of Ammanford which was carrying waste and the driver was not a registered waste carrier. The driver was subsequently interviewed by environmental enforcement officers and admitted that he did not have the relevant licence for transporting waste. The council hopes this case will now act as a warning to others and help prevent the illegal transport of waste which often results in fly-tipping. Head of Street Scene David Hughes said: “All businesses that ...