THE SITE of the former Abernant Colliery is fast becoming “a dumping ground” for Neath Port Talbot county borough council (NPTCBC).

That is the blunt view of residents of Cwmgors and Gwaun cae Gurwen, who have pledged to fight the local authority’s plans to build an anaerobic digestion facility at nearby Pwllfawatkin.

During a heated meeting at Cwmgors Rugby Club, residents expressed their annoyance at not being informed about the proposed facility.

They are also concerned – and are seeking guarantees – that the plant would not give off smells and dangerous toxins.

“It is a matter of concern that members of the NPTCBC planning committee will be asked to approve an application that is only understood as a concept, without knowing the full consequences of their decision,” said a spokesperson.

“The facility will take 52,000 tonnes of waste matter per annum.

“It will be brought to the site from as far away as Pembroke in the west and Bridgend in the east.

“It was felt that this was the start of even greater volumes in the future.

“The facility will increase the number of HGV vehicles on the decaying roads of Pontardawe and the A474 corridor to Ammanford.

“Traffic to the Mynydd Y Betws wind farm, the waste tip in Rhyd Y Fro and the open cast mining in Gwaun Cae Gurwen, is already a matter of grave concern to the local communities who feel neglected by NPTCBC, and consider that their towns are forgotten outposts.”

Protestors also fear that an increased number of heavy vehicles on the A474 Amman Valley road will increase the instances of burst water mains.