Community

Pembrokeshire residents decry inaction over Withyhedge Landfill stench

Published

6 months ago

June 18, 2024

RESIDENTS near a smelly landfill site are still up in arms over the continued environmental and health impacts of the site.

Since its purchase by David Neal in 2022, Withyhedge Landfill has transformed from a waste disposal site into a source of noxious gases, significantly impacting the surrounding communities.

The crisis reached a peak in October 2023, when the landfill reportedly turned into a “toxic gas factory,” following an incident where harmful gases began to emanate freely from the site. Despite repeated complaints and incident reports filed by residents, the Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has yet to take effective action.

In November 2023, David Neal publicly declared his intent to be a “good neighbour.” However, locals have experienced the opposite. They report a relentless increase in waste trucks and the illegal dumping of 44,000 tonnes of non-conforming waste. Complaints include severe odours, burning eyes, headaches, breathing difficulties, and heightened anxiety, all linked to the toxic emissions from the landfill.

Residents feel abandoned by NRW, whose enforcement actions have been described as ineffective. Over the past ten months, thousands of incident reports have been submitted, documenting the unbearable conditions and pleading for intervention. Yet, NRW’s response has been negligible, leading to growing frustration and anger among the affected communities.

A critical analysis of NRW’s “Enforcement and Sanctions Policy” reveals a systemic failure to prioritise public health over economic growth. According to the policy, enforcement actions are supposed to be proportionate and aimed at preventing harm. However, residents argue that the lengthy assessment processes and reluctance to apply sanctions have only allowed the problem to worsen.

On 15 May 2024, it was reported that Dauson Environmental Group’s Withyhedge landfill faces action from both NRW and Pembrokeshire County Council after continued odour complaints. Following the expiry of a February NRW enforcement notice, Pembrokeshire has received legal advice recommending a claim for ‘public nuisance at common law.’ The council is currently studying a response from Dauson, owner of operator Resources Management Limited (RML), before deciding on an injunction.

NRW’s notice had given 5 April as a deadline for Withyhedge to comply, but a council report stated that “the malodour” had persisted. RML was due to complete planned works “in alignment with the deadline of the current notice,” but said it was unable to provide updates until NRW had completed its assessment.

NRW has since issued a second enforcement notice, requiring further actions by 14 May. It will assess whether these have been carried out this week, noting that the operator’s decision to cease accepting waste from 14 May “in no way impacts the deadlines set in the notice.” NRW officers on-site and in local communities will study odour emissions and conduct a full-site inspection to assess compliance with the permit. NRW’s head of south-west operations, Huwel Manley, acknowledged the investigation could take some time, understanding the “strength of feeling and growing impatience among people living and working in the surrounding communities.”

***Withyhedge Landfill Site: A view from the air (Pic: BBC)***

The group also remains embroiled in political controversy regarding a £200,000 donation made to First Minister Vaughan Gething for his successful Labour leadership campaign. An unsuccessful Senedd motion, proposed by Conservatives, called on Gething to appoint an independent investigation into conflicts of interest. Conservative Andrew RT Davies highlighted that Dauson director David Neal’s criminal convictions for environmental infringements were “a matter of record.”

Davies noted that the campaign donations had broken no rules but the perception of such “substantial moneys” entering a leadership campaign had caused “considerable disquiet.” Neal stated that Dauson supported Gething’s campaign as part of its commitment to investing in the future of the country, maintaining that donations were detailed in the company’s financial reports. Neal asserted, “Regardless of the support the Dauson Environmental Group has provided Vaughan Gething, we have not engaged with him or his ministerial department regarding any of our business plans or applications, and we would not expect him to have any involvement or influence in decisions on these matters.”

***Henry Tufnell on a site visit (Pic: Supplied)***

Labour’s Parliamentary candidate Henry Tufnell was in Crundale last month, two days after NRW’s enforcement deadline, where the foul odour was still present. He reported that residents were “incredibly angry” and told him that they had simply given up reporting the odour issues to NRW because it was not making any difference in resolving the problem. The NRW website indicated that as of last week they were assessing compliance on the landfill site. A Stop the Stink demo, organised for Saturday, May 25, shows the strength of local feeling.

Henry Tufnell said: “I have written directly to NRW, calling them to action. It is deeply concerning that the stink from the Withyhedge landfill site is still blighting the lives of so many Pembrokeshire residents after the recent enforcement deadline from NRW has passed.

“The time for half measures is over – NRW must take immediate and decisive action.”

Local residents are demanding more stringent enforcement and accountability from NRW and the Welsh Government. They argue that the current system allows companies like David Neal’s to operate with impunity, jeopardising public health and environmental safety.

“We deserve more than this,” stated one local resident. “We will not accept the status quo created by NRW.”

As the situation escalates, the affected communities continue to call for immediate and decisive action to halt the pollution and restore their right to a safe and healthy environment.

The ongoing crisis at Withyhedge Landfill highlights significant flaws in regulatory policies that prioritise economic growth over environmental protection. With growing public outcry and mounting health concerns, it remains to be seen whether NRW and the Welsh Government will step up to address these urgent issues and protect the wellbeing of Pembrokeshire residents.

Community

Ben Lake MP visits postal workers during Christmas rush

Published

1 hour ago

December 18, 2024

Tom Sinclair

BEN LAKE MP visited postal workers at the Llandysul Delivery Office last Friday (Dec 13) to show his support and gain insight into their operations during the festive season—the busiest time of the year for Royal Mail.

The holiday period sees Royal Mail handle around double its usual volume of letters and parcels, as people send Christmas cards and shop for gifts online. To meet this seasonal surge, the Llandysul Delivery Office has hired four extra vehicles, while Royal Mail nationally has recruited 16,000 temporary workers and introduced nearly 4,000 additional vans, trucks, and trailers.

During the visit, Ben Lake spoke with Ryan Goellnitz, Customer Operations Manager, about Royal Mail’s efforts to enhance convenience for customers. These include services like Parcel Collect—where posties collect parcels directly from customers’ doorsteps—and the introduction of over 5,000 new parcel drop-off points this year, including at Collect+ stores and parcel lockers.

Ryan Goellnitz said:
“It was great to have Ben visit our Delivery Office and show him how we are gearing up for our peak period. We are pulling out all the stops to deliver Christmas for our customers.”

Ben Lake, MP for Ceredigion Preseli, praised the dedication of the postal workers:
“It was a pleasure to visit the Llandysul Delivery Office and witness the incredible volume of post managed by Royal Mail, not only here but across the country. This is an essential service year-round, but the effort and planning to ensure smooth operations during Christmas are extraordinary.

“I am immensely grateful for their tireless efforts and dedication, which deserve to be fully recognised. The visit gave me real appreciation for the hard work and commitment of everyone involved.”

Royal Mail’s preparations for Christmas are a year-long effort, ensuring the postal service continues to meet the festive demand.

Community

Early-bird tickets are released for SPAN Arts’ Narberth A Cappella Festival 2025!

Published

6 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Richard Lewis

SPAN ARTS is delighted to announce the return of the Narberth A Cappella Festival for March 2025. This spectacular and unique festival returns to the town of Narberth for 2025, bringing wonderful A Cappella offerings to Pembrokeshire. Not only this but new for 2025 a tantalising Earlybird offer has just been launched, with discounted festival tickets, priority workshop booking and more!

The Narberth A Cappella Festival, organized by SPAN Arts, is Wales’s premier a cappella voice celebration, attracting participants from across the UK. With over 25 years of history, Narberth A Cappella Festival 2025 will focus on community voices, featuring the much-loved Singing Feast and vocal workshops led by world-renowned practitioners.

The festival will commence with our welcoming Singing Feast, an evening where you can enjoy delicious food, excellent company and joyful singing on the Friday night. On the Saturday you can join our singing workshops which bring talented vocalists to teach vocal sessions in both the morning and afternoon. In the evening, we close our festival with a concert that showcases community a cappella choirs, with a line-up of UK wide and local choirs for you to enjoy.

You will be able to book individual events when SPAN Arts launches their event tickets in the new year or book your “Festival Tickets” that will cover entry to every event across the festival.

But why wait till then? Book Earlybird Festival Ticket offer and secure your place now. Already available to purchase via their website this makes the perfect Christmas gift to give that unique experience to any music enthusiast.

With the Earlybird ticket offer, you can grab yourself a discounted festival ticket that covers all the events of the weekend. It also gets you priority booking for the limited places available at the singing workshops ahead of the general sales release in the new year.

All Earlybirds will also get a free tote bag on their arrival at the start of the festival! But hurry, this offer is only available through the Christmas period and finishes on the twelfth day of Christmas (6 January).

Keep an eye on their website and social media for more announcements about artists, performers and more over the next few weeks.

For more information contact [email protected] or call 01843 869323

The event will take place 7 – 8 March 2025 at the following locations:

Singing Feast: The Scout Hut, Town Moor, Narberth. SA67 7AG
Singing Workshops: Bethesda Baptist Church, High St, Narberth SA67 7AP
Final Concert: St Andrews Church, 17 Church St, Narberth SA67 7BH

Earlybird festival ticket £58. More tickets to be released in the New Year. Advanced booking required. Visit the SPAN Arts website to book.

Please contact [email protected] to discuss your accessibility needs. For ticket holders who need access support to attend, they offer a free ticket for their companion, carer or personal assistant. Contact 01834 869323 to book your carers ticket.

Community

Newport Parrog car park takeover is bid to save toilets

Published

8 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL for a north Pembrokeshire beach-side car park to be given to the local town council to use as a source of funding to keep its closure-threatened public toilet open has been backed by the national park.

Members of the December meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park were recommended to approve the surrender of the existing National Park Authority lease of the 40-vehicle Newport Parrog car park and listed lime kiln to Newport Town Council.

A report for members said the Park acquired an 80-year lease at a “nominal rent” of £268 a year on the site back in 1996.

The report says the continued existence of the lease prevents the Park or anyone else from introducing parking charges, with a special covenant in its conditions.

Adjoining the car park is a public toilet which the county council intends to close in early 2025, unless another party is willing to step forward and assume responsibility for its continuing management and operation, members heard.

“Newport Town Council has stated their willingness to assume that responsibility conditional upon them being able to generate a long-term revenue stream to cover its operating costs. They have identified the introduction of parking charges for the car park as a means of raising that revenue stream.

“It is an unusual step for a local community to advocate for the imposition of car park charges upon itself, although their reasons for doing so in this instance are quite clear, and has already received a mandate of support from within the local community.

“To give effect to that mandate, Newport Town Council need to secure two principal objectives: Long-term control of the subject land: they have already agreed terms with our landlord (The Baroney of Cemmas, Alex Hawksworthy) to acquire his freehold of the subject land and the public toilets. Secure full vacant possession of the subject land by taking a surrender of the Authority’s remaining unexpired lease term thereby allowing them to introduce parking charges in their capacity as the owner-operator of the subject land.”

The report, recommending delegated approval be given to its chief executive to complete the surrender, concluded: “The continuation of the National Park lease represents an unfunded long-term liability for the Authority and also frustrates Newport Town Councils ability to protect and secure the at-risk public toilet facilities.

“The proposal put forward by Newport Town Council is considered to be a creative and practical long-term solution which would see both the freehold of the car park, lime kiln and public toilet facility pass from private control into local public ownership and remain available for public use under the direct control of Newport Town Council.”

Speaking at the meeting, local member Cllr Mike James, who moved approval, said a recent meeting in Newport’s town hall unanimously passed support for the proposal being brought before the national park.

The proposal for a delegated decision was passed by Park members.