As you may already know, the Hybont project recently hit a significant setback after the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) submitted last-minute advice that hazardous substances content is refused.
Resultingly, a meeting of the council’s planning committee to decide the application was called off the day before it was due to be held (17th October 2024).
The HSE asked for clarification from planning officers on the site layout and how the hydrogen was to be stored. These appear to be at least some of the reasons why they assess that the project – as is – poses a risk to the surrounding population and that the consent should be refused on safety grounds.
The council can still approve the hazardous materials consent against HSE advice, but the HSE reserves the right to request a further Welsh Government “call-in” if that happens. You would also assume it could potentially open BCBC up to legal challenges.
Council “won’t apologise” (yet) for accusing Hybont opponents of spreading misinformation
At this month’s full council meeting, Cllr. Tim Thomas (Ind, St. Bride’s Minor & Ynysawdre) questioned using the council’s press office to attack Hybont’s opponents.
One of the main objections to Hybont by opponents is that the project posed a risk to nearby residents and businesses – a claim now seemingly backed by HSE experts.
Cllr. Thomas noted that BCBC press releases warning against the spread of Hybont misinformation have now been removed from the council’s website. Council Leader, Cllr. John Spanswick (Lab, Brackla West Central) – who was the Cabinet member in charge of the project at the time – is quoted from one of the press releases: “Unfortunately a great deal of (mis)information is already in circulation about the proposed new Hybont plant and some of these claims have been wildly inaccurate.”
Cllr. Spanswick also made a statement at a full council meeting in December 2022 expressing a similar sentiment.
Cllr. Thomas asked the Leader whether he would take the opportunity to apologise to those who raised legitimate concerns.
Cllr. Spanswick offered a “simple no” as there “was nothing to apologise for” as the planning application is still live. Only once that process has been completed will we know who is in the right and whether to make an “appropriate statement”.
