Agenda item

Temporary permission for the drilling of an exploratory borehole to test the Westphalian and Namurian strata for coal bed methane and shale gases – Land within Foel Fynyddau Forest,  near Pontrhydyfen,  Cwmafan, Port Talbot.

(Councillors J. Warman and M. Ellis re-affirmed their interest in this item and withdrew to the public gallery during the discussion and voting thereon.) 

Temporary permission for the drilling of an exploratory borehole to test the Westphalian and Namurian strata for coal bed methane and shale gases  - Land within Foel Fynyddau Forest, near Pontrhydyfen, Cwmafan, Port Talbot.

RESOLVED:             that the above application be refused.on the following grounds:-

By reason of  the level of noise generated from the proposed drilling operations on a 24 hour basis, and, given the site-specific circumstances of this valley and the substantial perception of impact on the local community, it is considered that the impacts on the nearest noise sensitive residential receptors would be unacceptable, especially during night time operations.  The proposal is therefore contrary to Minerals Planning Policy Wales and Policy M8 of the adopted Neath Port Taltbot Unitary Development Plan.