Council leader writes to First Minister over toxic Ty Llwyd quarry

The leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council has asked First Minister Mark Drakeford for Welsh Government support with a toxic quarry near Ynysddu.

Earlier this year, samples of leachate from the council-owned Ty Llwyd quarry were analysed in a Greenpeace laboratory, following reports of a “toxic smell” and brown, foamy liquid coming from the site.

Tests of the samples by Greenpeace found a number of toxic and industrial chemicals including a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB). PCBs are a group of man-made chemicals widely used in the manufacture of electronics.

It is thought PCBs were dumped at the quarry by chemical firm Monsanto from its Newport factory decades ago.

The council was recently slapped with a warning letter from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) for allowing contaminated water from the hazardous waste site to spill onto a public road.

Ynysddu’s two independent councillors, Jan Jones and Janine Reed, tabled a motion during a heated council meeting on Tuesday July 4, calling on the council to write to Welsh Government asking for an inquiry.

The motion called on “the leader of council to write to the Welsh Government requesting support for an independent public inquiry and to investigate and facilitate funding within the Environmental Protection Act Part 2A.”

The motion was approved by councillors. Council leader Sean Morgan has now sent a letter to the First Minister over the issue.

Cllr Morgan has pledged to keep the community updated on the Welsh Government’s response.

Cllr Morgan’s letter in full

In his correspondence to the First Minister, Cllr Morgan said: “My council continues to manage the legacy of the former Ty Llwyd quarry above the community of Ynysddu.

“Environmental health officers continue to work with their colleagues from NRW in developing an effective plan to manage leachate emanating from the site to the satisfaction of NRW. The challenge of managing the leachate is a seasonal issue which has been exacerbated by our changing climate and resultant periods of substantial rainfall during the winter months.

“The profile of the site together with the associated legacy issues, has been raised significantly over the last 12 months and a notice of motion was presented to full council on July 4 by the two local independent members representing the Ynysddu ward. The notice of motion was fully supported by the council, which requested I seek your assistance and intervention in the following way.

“The Notice of Motion stated that ‘the Leader of council write to the Welsh Government requesting support for an independent public inquiry and to investigate and facilitate funding within the Environmental Protection Act Part 2A’.

“My officers recently met with a number of your officials from the Environmental Quality Division on July 4 and fully appraised them of the current position together with details of the further proposed planned works to be undertaken by my officers and NRW.

“I would therefore appreciate your response to the request for support and assistance as detailed in the above notice of motion. However, in the meantime I am happy to discuss the matter with the relevant minister and officials if you require any further details.”