THE firm applying to secure a permit to operate a controversial gasification plant in Barry has spoken to Barry and District in a bid to alleviate safety fears from residents.

As Natural Resources Wales (NRW) holds a public consultation on the Biomass UK No 2 Ltd application for a permit to operate the £50 million Woodham Road plant, the firm spoke to us exclusively.

Regarding some of the main issues raised by homeowners in the area over the ‘incinerator’ which is currently under construction, a spokesman said that in submitting the environmental permit application, the company was required to use wind and weather data from an approved source that meets NRW standards.

“Rhoose Airport is the nearest such location to the project,” he said. “The application takes the hourly weather data for a five-year period and runs each data-set through the project’s emissions model in order to demonstrate that every such reading results in emissions that are within the regulated limits. 

“In essence, this takes the most extreme weather scenarios and shows the plant will still be fully compliant.”

Some residents feel that the effects of plume emissions should have included data from Barry though.

This was raised at demonstrations attended by hundreds who oppose the permit plan, as were fears over fire safety.

To this, the Biomass spokesman said: “Fire safety is something the plant takes very seriously and there are three sets of measures taken. First, the plant’s design itself takes into account many features to prevent fires occurring in the first place. 

“Second, there has been significant expenditure on equipment that would extinguish any fire in the unlikely event one occurred. 

“This follows best practice for biomass plants. Finally, during the next phase of the project there will be discussions with the fire services to ensure proper risk awareness and a coordinated response.”

He also said the Vale council planning committee’s conditions mean the company has designed a detailed landscaping plan which includes various trees and shrubs.

The project, which was given planning approval two year ago – but without a licence to operate from NRW – is said to be on track with construction to be completed in August.

Further concerns are set to be addressed by Biomass next week.