Incinerator move ‘bad for investment in Newport’ (From South Wales Argus)

Incinerator move ‘bad for investment in Newport’

8:40am Saturday 4th August 2012 in Gwent news By David Deans - Politics reporter

A MAN who spearheaded plans for a waste burner at Llanwern Steelworks says a decision to deny it planning permission could put off future investment in the city.

Veolia executive director Robert Hunt, who was responsible for the proposal, said the firm has not given up on Prosiect Gwyrdd.

Newport council planning committee went against officers' advice and refused planning permission on the grounds of the effect the incinerator could have on ecology, transport and the Glan Llyn redevelopment scheme.

Officers said there had been no evidence that the incinerator would affect for Glan Llyn to be finished and marketed.

Mr Hunt said overseas investors would look at the plan and see it was approved by council officers: "You could be forgiven for thinking they'd perhaps invest in another economy where it is better received, where you don't have the caprice of this political overlay.

"Prospective inward investors in Newport will be discouraged by this decision at a time when UK regions are competing for investment."

He said the firm's advisors will be looking at whether the firm is likely to be successful on appeal: "We haven't given up on Prosiect Gwyrdd. We're still involved."

Mr Hunt said the £200 million scheme would have provided Tata with a secure "renewable" energy supply which would have boosted job security at the plant.

Around 350 would have been employed in building the plant, the director said, with the firm wanting to use local labour as much as possible, while 45 people would work there when its operating.

Glan Llyn developer St Modwen had objected to the plans and Mr Hunt said he understood the sensitivity over the residential development.

But he said: "We have a plant outside Basingstoke. It has a number of properties worth a substantial amount of money a similar distance away.

"The traffic generated by the plant was "nowhere near the amount" that would be generated by a residential development, Mr Hunt argued, adding a study from the Department of Health concluded there was no impact on human health.