AN application to build a gas-powered power station in Porthmadog has been refused.
Plans for a 5MW gas power station on a site along Ffordd Penamser had been recommended for refusal by Gwynedd planning officers. The committee agreed, with 11 councillors voting in favour of refusal. No-one voted against refusal and there were no abstentions.
The application would have seen a new 5MW fast response generation plant built to help fill the void left by the demise of Britain’s coal-fired power stations.
Enough to meet the needs of around 7,500 average households at peak generation, fuel would have been supplied by underground pipe via the national gas main system, meaning there would be no deliveries needed.
Developers said it would be used to support the main network at times of greater demand and peak periods, but would only kick in when a "demand" signal is received from the National Grid, possibly creating two full-time jobs in the process.
But Cllr Selwyn Griffiths said: "I fully support the recommendation to refuse this because it is contrary to what Gwynedd Council wants to do in terms of doing away with fossil fuels. Also what’s crucial here is flooding. I’m completely against this.
"Regarding employment, it’s going to be unmanned and only used when needed so it’s possible it will stand empty for a year or so without being used.
"The noise impact is also of concern to me. I would urge you strongly to throw this out. I see no value to this to our area.
A planning statement when the application was first lodged in
Natural Resources Wales objected to the plans saying it had "significant concerns", adding that permission should only be granted if the applicant submits a revised assessment that demonstrates that a potential flood risk could be acceptably managed and that further information is submitted to enable a Habitat Regulation Assessment to be carried out.
Planning officers recommended the application for refusal, stating: "Insufficient evidence has been submitted for the need for the development or its use of fossil fuels that would undermine Gwynedd Council’s declaration of a climate crisis. To this end, it is considered that the proposal is contrary to the general objectives of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Joint Local Development Plan."