A planned waste site in Ystrad Mynach has been criticised for being close to a hospital and homes.
A planning application was submitted to develop a civic amenity site and waste transfer station on Dyffryn Business Park, nine years after similar plans were shelved.
In 2005, plans to collect and treat waste at the Dyffryn House site – formerly the St Ives print factory – were scrapped, but Caerphilly County Borough Council is now seeking permission for a recycling centre and rubbish tip.
But Lindsay Whittle, South Wales East AM and Plaid Cymru councillor for Penyrheol, has spoken out against the plans.
He said: “My view is that there were better sites for a waste transfer facility than at Dyffryn House, which is close to Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr and homes in Llanbradach and Ystrad Mynach.
“This site was purchased for £5million by the former Labour administration with every intention of using it as a waste transfer station, but they never told people that. Now, with a planning application being submitted, the truth is out.
“A waste transfer facility could have been provided many years ago but Labour did not support a development at Trehir, although it is a site that’s been used for decades for waste.”
Maesycwmmer Labour councillor Robin Woodyatt said there was a dispute about previous plans for Dyffryn House, but the proposals were subjected to “scare stories and scaremongering”.
He said: “This is totally and solely a waste transfer station. There’s not going to be waste stored there or converted there. It will all be internal, inside the building and will all be transferred in small lorries.”
Unsure of whether the civic amenity site would be housed inside, Cllr Woodyatt added: “Civic facilities for recycling are not usually inside, but these are covered receptors and I know if this goes ahead it will be the same as council amenity sites anywhere.
“There will be people there and it will be properly run and shouldn’t cause any problems to anyone.”
Under the plans waste will not be treated at the site, but rubbish collected by the council will be stored there before being removed to an external processing plant.
The application would also give permission for a tip, where residents bring their own waste to dispose of, as well as housing a vehicle wash, fuelling station and HGV parking.
A Caerphilly County Borough Council spokesperson said: “Caerphilly County Borough Council needs long-term plans in place to deal effectively with its municipal waste, and councils across Wales are under increasing pressure to meet tough recycling targets set by the Welsh Government.
“The Dyffryn House redevelopment proposal has already been endorsed by the council’s Cabinet and Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee.
“A formal planning application has now been submitted for consideration, and a final decision about the development will be taken at a meeting of the Planning Committee in the future.”
The plans are being exhibited at Penallta Hous at Ystrad Mynach Library from December 1 to 5, Llanbradach Library from December 8 to 12 and Dyffryn House from December 15 to 19.
The planning application can also be viewed at www.caerphilly.gov.uk, by seraching “Ty Dyffryn” in Public Access.