Posted on November 7, 2017
THE Vale Council is to have meeting with the Welsh Government next Wednesday, November 8, to discuss the disposal of dredged material at ‘Cardiff Grounds’ in the Bristol Channel.
The council recently said it was keen to ensure all the necessary safeguards were in place in case radioactive material is deposited.
It said it wanted to meet the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, to outline the council’s concerns.
A licence runs until 2019 allowing for the disposal of dredged materials resulting from work at Hinkley Point Power Station.
Coun John Thomas, Leader of the Vale Council, told The GEM: “Since the report on the disposal of material at the Cardiff Grounds was discussed at Cabinet on October 9, there has been a detailed discussion at the council’s environment and regeneration scrutiny committee on October 12.
“I have also written to the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment and Rural Affairs and the chief executive of Natural Resources Wales.
“My initial request for an urgent meeting with the Cabinet Secretary was declined, but I have since been given 15 minutes to meet with her on November 8, along with the Leader of Cardiff Council, Coun Huw Thomas.
“I have also recently met with representatives of EDF Energy to discuss the issues around the dredging and disposal of material associated with the construction of Hinkley Point.
“As an outcome of that meeting, EDF have been invited to attend the next environment and regeneration scrutiny committee on November 9 to present their views and where members will also receive an update of my meeting with the Cabinet Secretary.”
Last month, the Welsh Government emphasised the licence was not for the disposal of nuclear waste. The material licenced for disposal is sediment dredged from the Severn Estuary.
No disposal has taken place so far, and materials to be disposed of would have to be sampled and tested, and subject to further written approval by NRW.
The Welsh Government added that a sound assessment process is in place to protect the marine environment and human health for present and future generations.
Source: The Barry GEM
