Clwyd South MS to hold talks with Natural Resources Wales after fire at Hafod Quarry

Ken Skates MS is to hold talks with Natural Resources Wales over the future of a waste plant where a recent fire was ‘the last straw’ for local residents.

The Member of the Senedd for Clwyd South asked for urgent talks with NRW bosses to raise his constituents’ concerns after the Hafod Quarry tip in Johnstown was reopened this week.

Firefighters were called to a blaze on Hafod Quarry in Johnstown on Wednesday 27th May.

The fire, which involved 1,000 square metres of the landfill, took two days to extinguish and dampen down.

Residents in the Johnstown and Ruabon area were urged to keep their windows and doors closed due to the smoke. However similar advice was also issued the next day to residents in the town.

Mr Skates had previously called for the site not to be begin operations again until an investigation into the fire two weeks ago had concluded.

Mr Skates said: “I received a letter from Johnstown councillor David Bithell about the Hafod Quarry plant and I share his concerns and those of local residents about the viability of the site.

“I know the strength of feeling on this issue in the community and made urgent representations to Natural Resources Wales and Environment Minister Lesley Griffiths asking for assurances that a full investigation would be carried out and concluded before the site was allowed to reopen.

“As well as a number of residents, I was also contacted by Ruabon councillor Dana Davies, who is in full agreement and has also raised this with the Environment Minister.

“I have since received a response from Natural Resources Wales which said ‘it will not be possible for this investigation to be completed before full landfill operations recommence’.

“Local people have had enough and this fire was the final straw for many of them. I have been in contact with senior NRW officers again and will be holding further discussions about the site’s operation with them on Friday.

“The Environment Minister is unable to issue direct orders as to how the site is run, so I want local voices to be heard by those who can and I will be making sure NRW understands the full scale of residents’ objections to this site’s continued operation.”