Laugharne Wastewater Treatment Works Future Plans

Laugharne Wastewater Treatment Works Future Plans On the 4th November Andrew and I met with four members of the Dwr Cymru (DC) team looking at the tree felling, vegetation clearance and cliff face stabilisation plans above Laugharne Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW). This was a very productive meeting on a number of fronts. We learnt quite a lot and we believe that we have made some good contacts for the future too. In detail then: 1. By way of context, it’s important to understand first that the plans to convert the WwTW to a Sewage Pumping Station (SPS) is being reconsidered due to the environmental need for the facility and to ensure this option is the best use of customers’ money and the best long term solution. There have been some upgrades to the facility as well as plans to carry out further improvements in the future to be completed by March 2029. We didn’t talk about this at length as it wasn’t the primary purpose of the meeting, though we will follow up at a later date. In this scenario, therefore, the stabilisation of the cliff is deemed essential. 2. The problem for DC is that the cliff face itself, as well as several trees on that cliff, pose a risk to the works. They have already experienced rocks, tree branches and small landslips hitting the facility so the concern is for the safety of the workforce as well as the integrity of the infrastructure itself. They feel it is only a matter of time before a large bough breaks and falls or a larger landslip hits the facility causing significant risk to the integrity of the plant and the staff who work there. Having been up close now, Andrew and I agree with that analysis. 3. They have identified a roughly rectangular area that encompasses a total length of approximately 65m, this being the full length behind the sewage works and includes about 5m either side as a buffer zone. 4. Within this area there are four sycamore trees. Whilst these currently do not pose a significant risk DC do plan to remove them completely so that they can gain full access to secure the embankment that they stand upon (see point 5.). They have identified a very large oak that is a) leaning significantly towards the works and b) has two particularly large boughs overhanging the works. The plan here is NOT to remove this tree but to reduce the crown in order to remove the risk to the facilities and personnel below. In addition, the two large side boughs which overhang towards the works may be significantly reduced or even removed. A final judgement will be made when they are in the canopy itself. They have identified a very large beech tree which again they plan crown reduction but do NOT intend to remove. This is to the right of the path as you walk away from the car park up the hill. 5. They are planning to cut back all the ground cover within that rectangle but they are NOT going to take out the roots. This clearance work will include several small saplings and coppiced trees as well as the sycamores (point 4.). They will be drilling into the cliff face in order to secure stainless steel netting to stabilise the whole area behind the works. Whilst there may be a couple of small bare sections created as a consequence of accessing the cliff, they intend to leave as much undergrowth as possible in place so that it will grow back quickly and further hide the netting. This netting will extend from the works up the cliff face and will finish some 2 metres out so short of the path at its closest point. The netting will be further away from the path as it curves to the right away from the works. 6. As far as the clearances of trees and vegetation are concerned, Andrew and I agree that it is a) necessary and b) the minimum they can do to achieve their purpose on safety grounds. 7. The footpath closure is inevitable unfortunately as they will have equipment and people attached via ropes, cables and pulleys, some of which may be attached to the cliff face on the upper side of the path. When we questioned the possibility of opening the path at weekends and evenings they explained that it is CCC that have insisted on full closure. However, in discussing this further with the DC team today, they have agreed to revisit this with CCC as they believe it is reasonable to open the path at least at weekends. Again, Andrew and I are happy that they will restrict access to the minimum commensurate with their safety requirements. That said, if anyone has a contact at CCC and LTCC, it would be useful to lobby them to reduce the closure times as much as possible and keep the path open at weekends. We also pointed out that there is an alternative route over the top of Sir John’s Hill and that it would be very beneficial to have it properly signposted in the event of closure of the Birthday Walk. They would be happy to take this forward should it be required. 8. This project will take place in two phases. The first phase should commence within a month or so and will involve thinning, felling and vegetation clearance. The second phase should take place in early spring and will involve stabilisation netting installation and mitigation (see point 9.). 9. We discussed mitigation with them and it is their intention to replant alternative species as an offset to what they remove. They explained that this would inevitably look different as they will not be able to plant trees here. They will however look at smaller species of shrubs so that cover will be established as well as screening the WwTW from the path; this will of course take time. In this context we discussed the possibility of securing funding from them for tree planting elsewhere in the township. In principle they are happy to consider this and one of the people there today is responsible for their Community Liaison team. Consequently we have a direct line into their community fund and hopefully we will be able to use this to our advantage. We need to decide what we want and where we want it so we can put together a formal proposal. 10. We asked what is planned with the wood from the felled trees, particularly any significant beech and oak. Whilst their initial response was that this had not been considered as yet, they are aware that the land behind the WwTW is owned by the Corporation and that they would be offered first refusal of anything deemed to be of value. 11. They have committed to keeping us informed of progress and are happy for us to contact them for further information as and when the need arises. They have also committed to involving us should they feel our local knowledge may be of further help to them with this project. In conclusion then, the tree and vegetation clearance is necessary and inevitable. However, we do believe that DC plan to carry out the minimum intervention commensurate with the health and safety of their employees and the protection of the essential WwTW. We also believe that the team we met today were very receptive, positive and are happy to work with us. We are confident that we have made some good contacts here for the future. Neil Warburton & Andrew Miles.