TORFAEN council’s obligation to balance its economic responsibilities, both to its residents and on a national scale, with its obligation to protect the environment was debated on the third day of the public inquiry into plans for a quarry at Tirpentwys Cut.
The council’s final witnesses were cross-examined by Morag Ellis QC, representing Peakman Ltd, which is appealing against a Torfaen council refusal of planning permission for the scheme.
Norman Jones, who was Torfaen council's planning officer when the quarry plans were refused, urged that the inquiry errs on the side of caution with their decision, as it could have an irreversible affect on the ancient woodland.
South Wales Argus Camera Club member Gwyn Jenkins took this aerial shot of the Tirpentwys Cut.
“I don’t think it is a matter of opinion that there will be a significant and irreversible loss of ancient woodland. It’s a matter of fact,” he added, saying the land had been relatively undisturbed by human activity..
“I think it’s right and proper that the decision maker takes a precautionary approach.”
Peakman's proposals for the quarry included a haulage route, which could be used daily by up to 100 heavy construction vehicles if the quarry is approved.
Focusing on that part of the proposal, Miss Ellis raised the issue of what would happen to the resources at Tirpentwys if the council’s decision was upheld.
She said: “If this appeal is turned away then the mineral resources will be sterilised.
“No other route has been proposed by the council. The aggregate would still be there, but it will be inaccessible. We can’t just magic it out.”
A picture from Tirpentwys Cut taken by Camera Club member Matthew Clibery.
Michael Bedford QC, representing Torfaen council read a response from Natural Resource Wales to an email from Mr Jones asking them to clarify their position on Peakman’s proposals.
It read: “Ancient woodland loss cannot be compensated for. These measures do not compensate for the loss of ancient woodland.”
Miss Ellis also highlighted that the plans would create jobs in the area, something which, with the council saying that unemployment was an issue in the county, would be in the interests of Torfaen residents.
“The planning balance does not justify the removal of this ancient woodland,” replied Mr Jones.
Mr Bedford, re-examining council witness Steve Williams, argued that the NRW threshold for an ancient woodland is half a hectare, significantly less than what would be lost should Peakman Ltd's appeal be approved.
He said: "Here we have an area of proposed loss of 1.5 hectares. It is an area that's three times the size of what would be considered an ancient woodland."
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Miss Ellis questioned the council’s use of an ecological study of a one hectare area of woodland written by Mr Williams, saying that a more in depth ecological study was needed and that plants and animals found within this area would be able to be relocated in the larger area of woodland.
She said: “It would be most surprising if in this whole area of 22 hectares and even 60 hectares that a plant would be confined within the one hectare that the track is present.”
The inquiry is set to continue for up to three weeks.
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