Green energy at Aberthaw? Fierce debate seems likely
Just eleven weeks after a columnist in the Glamorgan Star suggested the possibility of creating a tidal lagoon renewable power station at Aberthaw, the idea is being looked at by a well-funded local infrastructure project.
The Cardiff Capital Region City Deal has £1.2 billion to spend on general infrastructure, and is funded, in the main, by the UK and Welsh Governments. The 10 local authorities in the region – including the Vale Council – have each contributed around one per cent of the fund. In the Vale’s case, the contribution is £12.9 million, to be paid over 10 years.
In a column in the Glamorgan Star on 4th November, a local engineer, John Price, who has a background in the power generation industries, wrote that it was a practical site for a tidal lagoon, particularly as it would be easy to connect to the national grid, using pylons that had been used by the now decommissioned Aberthaw Power Station.
The project has been discussed within the Cardiff Capital Region City Dealas recently as last month. However, a press spokesperson told The Glamorgan Star there were confidentiality issues and at a statement would be issued in due course.
Ten local authorities make up the Cardiff Capital Region – Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend County Borough, Caerphilly County Borough, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen, and Vale of Glamorgan.
Mr Price’s column in the Glamorgan Star, to be honest, did not attract a flood of approval.
One local nature group claimed that the existing ash tip at Aberthaw – now covered in grass and an eyesore in Mr Price’s view, was already hosting a range of different species of wildlife.
The rest of the Aberthaw site is made up of a nature reserve, and also historical remains of past industry – in particular a lime kiln. Barry and Vale Friends of the Earthresponded to Mr Price’s suggestion, saying that the site should be restored to a “sustainable state which is beneficial to the local community”.
The group has called for work to stop the sea wall being breached and to stabilise the ash tip. They noted that when the power station was built many years ago, it was promised to return the area to its original state. Barry and Vale Friends of the Earth have called for that promise to be honoured.
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