A "DAVID and Goliath" battle is about to begin in Barry, with campaigners set to once again take on plans to build a huge wood burning energy plant on Barry's dockland.

Five years ago Sunrise Renewables won an appeal after their plans for a wood fired renewable energy plant were rejected by the Vale of Glamorgan council's planning committee.

With the original application due to expire in July this year, the company has lodged an application for amendments in order to build a bigger plant to accommodate new technology.

The plans, for a 23m tall building and 43m chimney on on David Davies Road, Woodham Road, Barry, were discussed by Barry Town Council's planning committee this week - who once again were unanimous in their opposition citing objections ahead of a future Vale council meeting.

This time, campaigners and councillors face an even bigger battle given that permission has already been granted for the development in principle. The original decision to reject the plans also landed the Vale council with an £80,000 bill following the appeal.

As well as reiterating the long standing worries of how the plant will affect Barry aesthetically and for the health of those who live nearby among others, concerns have also been raised that far from simply amending the previous plan the current application is actually plans for a new development, bigger in scope and size.

The wood burning plant would incinerate 200 tonnes of wood chips a day. The wood chips used would be from coated, treated and used wood such as MDF creating 10 tonnes of ash every day.

Speaking at the launch of a campaign last week, Barry and Vale Friends of the Earth chairman and Docks Incinerator Action Group (DIAG) spokesman Keith Stockdale said: “We fought against it five years ago. We have been there, done that, got the t-shirts. It’s a bigger beast. These guys don’t give up.

"It’s like David and Goliath. We’ve got to put up a fight. We are not going to allow it to go through.”

Campaigners are urging everyone in Barry to lodge objections ahead of a decision.

Andrea Duffy, of George Street, said: “It affects the whole of Barry under this mask of wood-fuelled renewable energy. The wood may turn into methane, but there are lots of by-products and it falls onto the town.

"The stack is twice as high as the building. We are going to lose all our views. It’s just crazy”

Margaret Warner, 78, of Dock View Road, said: “It’s rubbish and in the wrong place – near the houses. What are they going to do with what they burn?

Pat Warner, 74, of Dock View Road, said traffic would increase and affect Barry Island and all the routes into and out of Barry.

Further concerns have been raised on the adverse effect the plant would have on the nearby £230m Barry Waterfront scheme, plans for 2,000 homes, new businesses such as ASDA and the waterfront sports activity centre.

Residents can join Facebook group Stop the Barry Town Incinerator.

To make representations, write to the Vale planning department at the Docks Office, Barry, quoting ref.2015/00031/OUT

Campaigners will hold their next meeting at the Castle Hotel, Jewel Street, Barry, at 7.30pm on Wednesday, March 11.