AMMAN Valley residents living near a former landfill site in Glanaman have strongly opposed plans to bring it back to a level suitable for farming.

An planning application submitted by Asbri Planning, on behalf of T Richards Jones (Betws) Ltd to Carmarthenshire County Council’s planning department states it wishes to initially strip existing inadequate soil levels and import clean soils to create an new and improved landform at Abernant Farm, Heol Nant y Glyn, Glanaman.

The planned route of an eight-wheeled, 32-tonne tipper lorry required to deliver the soil will be made via Heol Ddu, Ammanford, through Maesybont, Tabernacle Road, and onto Station Road to the site.

A 34-signature petition from Heol Ddu residents has already been submitted to county planners with residents of Penybont, Glanaman, submitting a further petition – which is thought to have more than 100 signatures – opposing the move.

Residents fear the vehicles used to import the soils will overburden the road.

A Mr James of Heol Amman, Glanaman, said: “We already have a number of heavy goods vehicles coming through Penybont, we don’t want more traffic on our narrow roads, especially as there are a lot of families around.”

Although the planning application states “work which has proved successful” has alleviated any potential pollution to the water environment, following the previous unauthorised landfilling at the site, residents still have grave concerns.

One who did not wish to be named said: “Although the former landfill pit at Heol Nant y Glyn is now sealed, I fear any heavy work there could break through and contaminate the surrounding land and river. It has taken many years for the River Aman to recover from pre-war industrial pollution – it would be a disaster if anything would jeopardise this.”

Glanaman county councillor David Jenkins said Cwmaman town council had not been made aware of the application. However, it will be placed on the agenda for a meeting this week.

T Richards Jones (Betws) Ltd was contacted for a comment but had not responded by the time we went to press.