NATURAL Resources Wales (NRW) will not extend the public consultation deadline for the Biomass UK No.2 Ltd gasification permit – beyond Bank Holiday Monday, August 28.

Barry Town Council raised concerns that the deadline was too short for it to seek expert, independent advice on the information the gasification company supplied in answer to NRW’s further questions.

Town councillors, at their meeting (July 25) before the second consultation document went public (Thursday, July 31) said independent advice, commissioned by the authority, would have to meet a tight deadline and then meet the regulatory time frame for issuing notice of an extra-ordinary full council meeting.

Officers would then have to submit the council’s verdict to NRW.

They also raised concerns about the openness and effectiveness of a consultation held when residents and council staff were traditionally taking holiday leave.

NRW operations manager, Nadia De Longhi said: “We want to make sure we provide enough time for people to respond to our consultation, while at the same time keeping within our legal obligations for dealing with the application. We have made it clear from the start that this new consultation would run over the summer period.

“If we do decide to grant a permit to the company, there will also be a further consultation on our ‘draft’ decision, and an opportunity for people to submit any new information or evidence which they think we haven’t considered.”

She said NRW would continue to work closely with the Docks Incinerator Action Group (DIAG) and would meet with it on Thursday, August 3 to discuss the new information it had received and discuss the group’s concerns.

She added NRW was also consulting with its consultees which include Public Health Wales, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the Vale of Glamorgan Council) during this period for their expert advice.

Comments should be sent to Natural Resources Wales, Permitting Service, Cambria House, 29 Newport Road, CF24 0TP.

Alternatively, email permittingconsultations@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk