BARRY Town Council has agreed £10,000 to hire an expert to fight plans against the Biomass plant being built on Barry docks.

Around 150 people attended Barry Town Council offices to hear councillors consider seeking expert, independent advice on Thursday, March 23.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are currently consulting before deciding whether to grant a licence for the £50 million Woodham Road plant which is scheduled to be completely built by the end of this summer.

During the meeting, councillors agreed a budget increase of £10,000, to make the case against the licence, which was proposed by Plaid Cymru councillor Shirley Hodges.

The committee also agreed to three other recommendations, which included making representation to the National Resources Wales, for the town clerk to be "empowered to secure consultancy services as soon as possible" and for the leader of the council and opposition to authorise any additional finances if required.

Members of the public and some councillors aired their concerns over the biomass plant.

Cllr Hodges said: “Plaid Cymru has consistently voted and subsequently campaigned against this 'incinerator' on every occasion for the last 12 years for economic and health reasons.”

Cllr Steffan Wiliam added: “This scheme will increase air pollution in Barry. It also flies in the face of regeneration plans here for leisure, retail and a university campus.

"By voting for this, Labour and the Tories have jeopardised Barry’s economy and our children’s health. They should hang their heads in shame.

“Preventing the licence from being granted is now our last chance to stop this and this is why it is essential that we have expert advice to give us a chance of success.”

A Power Consulting Midlands Ltd spokesman said: “We are all in favour of BTC getting independent environmental advice.

"This will enable them to understand a complex area which, for many, will seem unintelligible.

"We would welcome such expert talking to the project’s environmental adviser who has been working on it for a year.

"Natural Resources Wales is really 'the state-sponsored expert' who is representing the interests of the public to ensure due compliance, something many members of the public don’t seem to appreciate.”