Land Contamination

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 2:59 pm on 16 December 2020.

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Photo of Delyth Jewell Delyth Jewell Plaid Cymru 2:59, 16 December 2020

Thank you, Minister. I've written to you on a number of occasions about the activities of the Bryn Group near Gelligaer, who have contaminated land by putting shredded plastic through the soil and who appear to have been spreading grass seed to cover that up. Now, Caerphilly council and NRW have said that there's no problem with the site, despite all the evidence that I and others have sent through video footage and photographs. I, myself, have walked the bund for two hours and can testify to how extensive and devastating the contamination is. In response to my most recent letter, Minister, you've told me that you'll be asking NRW to look into this matter again, but you've said that you don't see the need for an independent investigation. Could I please plead with you, Minister, to reconsider that decision, to keep the door open to conducting your own investigation of the contamination before all the evidence is covered up deep in the soil as a problem for future generations to deal with? I've told you before that I'm concerned the plastic could be entering the food chain through silage. This is not a problem that's going to go away, so please can you give me your assurance, and your assurance for the residents living nearby, that you'll take this extremely seriously?