A GROUP of residents met with the Welsh Government opposition leader on Thursday to express their concerns about the Biomass UK No.2 plant.

The Vale- based Tory AM, Andrew RT Davies, heard their opinions and answered questions about the company’s licence application when he visited Dock View Road, in Barry.

The householders overlook the Woodham Road facility, which is under construction and scheduled to be completed before the end of August 2017.

The company has said its aim is to open the facility in autumn with it being operational by the end of the year.

Pat Warner, 76, a resident of Dock View Road for 52 years, said she felt “fearful”.

Mrs Warner said: “I just don’t know why they are putting it there.

“I think it’s not light industry – we’d have no problem with that.

“People are saying there’s going to be nothing coming out of the stack so why are they putting one there?”

Margaret Warner, 80, a Dock View resident for 58 years, added: “They put that chimney up through the night. Why did they do that? I hope Natural Resources Wales (NRW) decide against it. It’s in the wrong place. We are going to get noise from it 24 hours a day, seven days a week and all the lorries are going to go back and fore. They are storing woodchip down there and there's a chance it could combust. It may never happen, but there’s always that chance. We are concerned.”

Mr Davies said he had met with NRW last week, but said the problem had arisen because the Labour Welsh Government’s planning system didn’t reflect community concern.

He said the system had meant the Vale council had not wanted to risk a second financial hit, if the company made a successful appeal.

He said: “The planning system is in favour of big business. They couldn’t risk a six-figure compensation sum. What we’ve got to do is change the planning system so that it is fit for purpose.

“Sadly, permission to build the plant was granted, but that does not mean the fight has stopped."