A CAMPAIGN to prevent an incinerator being built on Barry dockland has grown after Sunrise Renewables submitted a bid to extend its expired permission-granted application.

Planning permission had been granted to the company on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate for the erection of a new industrial building and installation of 9MW wood-fuelled renewable energy plant on July 2, 2010.

Vale planners had refused the original application on July 30, 2009.

Sunrise Renewables had five years to begin development, but the consent lapsed on July 3 this year.

But on June 6 this year, Sunrise Renewables lodged a proposal to extend the deadline for a further 12 months.

Meanwhile, the Vale planning committee will consider the same company’s differing outline application for a plant at David Davies Road, Woodham Road, on Barry’s dockland.

In the second application, considered by Vale planners on July 2 this year, the company proposed constructing a 43-metre chimney stack – twice the size of the previous granted – to burn 72,000 tonnes of wood per year.

Councillors deferred consideration of that application until after a site visit takes place today, July 30.

Barry Town Council, residents and pressure groups continue to oppose both applications.

Members of the Docks Incinerator Action Group (DIAG), Friends of the Earth and an increased number of residents met at the Castle Hotel on Wednesday, July 15, to step up the campaign.

The opposition plan to spread the message around Barry and lobby Vale Council planning committee members prior to the site visit and also attend the site visit to express their anger.

Barry and Vale Friends of the Earth coordinator Keith Stockdale said: “We are receiving support from environmental/incinerator campaigners from Blackpool to Edinburgh and the message is clear, across the country - the proposed Incinerators are inefficient waste treatment plants which will pollute the air we breathe, add to global warming and are not the answer, especially when Barry's Waterfront is being developed, along with water sport activities on the Docks. We need more Green Energy solutions such as the Solar Array being constructed on the Bendricks area.

“The slogan years ago was 'Adeiladu'r Barri e;r gwell', an incinerator is not the way to build a brighter Barry.”

Plaid Vale and Barry town councillor Ian Johnson said the extension proposal was confusing for local residents.

He said: “Despite local councillors’ opposition, the planning inspector gave Sunrise Renewables permission to build an incinerator on Barry Docks back in 2010.

“Like most planning permissions when they are agreed, they were given five years to begin construction.

“They didn’t do so, and instead they submitted a new application for a different incinerator, but on the same site, sparking local protests against the new plans.

“That new application is now in the planning process, but they have now also applied for an extension to the previously agreed plans.

“This is a very confusing situation for local residents.

“Barry Town Council objected to both the original plans and the new proposals for a series of reasons, including environmental concerns and the impact upon Barry regeneration.

“I am pleased that we have been consistent in our earlier objections by rejecting the proposal to allow them a greater length of time to build this incinerator.”

Campaigners were due to meet earlier this week to discuss a site visit lobby and at one at the Civic Offices, Holton Road, action ahead of the planning committee meeting today, July 30.

Sunrise Renewables had not responded to the Barry and District News at the time of going to press.