Bridgend residents protest over plans to build a hydrogen plant near their homes
| Published date | 23 June 2023 |
| Publication title | WalesOnline (Wales) |
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The hydrogen produced there would be intended to supply transport users such as refuse collection vehicles, buses and light vehicles at the Brynmenyn refuelling station dispensers, as well as for heat for the Ynysawdre Cluster through a 1.2km underground pipe. The cluster includes Ysgol Gynradd Brynmenyn Primary School, Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen and Halo Ynysawdre Swimming Pool.
However, some locals claim there are a number of concerns over the plans which they believe are based too close to housing at the nearby village of Bryncethin.
Jean Phillips lives in Bryncethin and said she still had some serious questions over the safety of the hydrogen plant.
She said: "We've turned up today because we need to let the council know how strongly we feel about these proposals. It's too close to the houses and it's not being built in the right place as far as we are concerned.
"My main concern is the health and safety risks here because if there is a leak from this plant or the associated pipes it would be in my house in less five minutes, and a large number of other people's along with it. I agree with going green but I don't agree with having it so close to houses and businesses as it's too dangerous."
Julie Jones owns a café nearby and added: "I've lived in Brynmenyn for 30 years so it was important for me to be here today. If anything happened at this site, with it being so close to the houses we would all be very close to the blast and it's crazy to have it here in my opinion. We can only hope now that councillors listen to our concerns and don't take this forward from the planning stage."
Phil and Christine Jones also live nearby and said in their opinion the negative points of constructing the plant would outweigh the positives if the project was approved.
Phil said: "We think the plant is a bad idea and we really don't want it to go ahead. For us living so close we feel we would be constantly worrying about an emergency situation, as well as a range of...
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