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Campaign to prevent wood-burning biomass plant in Splott

Cardiff Friends of The Earth has launched a campaign to stop the development of a wood-burning incinerator in Splott over health and climate concerns.

Crucially, in order to be able to speak in front of the planning committee, campaigners need 60 people to sign the petition from Splott, Tremorfa, Pengam Green areas before the end of the public consultation on the 6th of October.

Campaigners argue that:

  • burning wood emits similar levels and a similar range of pollutants as burning coal;
  • a wood-burning biomass incinerator will put the health of local residents at risk;
  • Incinerators create increases in air pollution, noise pollution and an increase in road traffic;
  • often wood is shipped in from abroad which furthers the deforestation and climate crisis across the world.

Friends of the Earth Cardiff asks that Cardiff Council reject the application in favour of encouraging investment in clean, renewable forms of energy and that Cardiff Council Planning department reject the application based on concerns around air pollution, traffic, and the proliferation of incinerators in the area as highlighted in our petition letter.

Gareth Ludkin from Cardiff Friends of the Earth said:

“We’re opposing the renewal of planning permission for this biomass generator due to the fact that it risks the health of local communities and fails to take account of local and national objectives to tackle the climate and ecological emergency.”

“Splott already has 1 waste incinerator, and with proposals for another in Wentloog, the east of Cardiff is at risk of up to three incinerators within close proximity to homes and schools in Splott, Tremorfa and Pengam Green. In particular the health of already marginalised Gypsy and traveller communities nextdoor to the site will also be at high risk.”

“Biomass is a counter productive and flawed form of energy production. Generating a unit of energy from wood emits between 3% and 50% more CO2 upfront than generating it from coal.

Trees help to absorb excessive levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, but cutting down trees to burn both releases the CO2 back into the atmosphere and reduces our ability to capture CO2.”

For more information on the concerns of the group, links to the planning permission application and to sign the petition, click here: https://bit.ly/35ZYxn6

Image of plant taken from planning submission.

Inksplott