Swansea council rejects Grovesend scrap yard plans

Controversial plans for a scrap yard on common land have been rejected by councillors in Swansea.

The development on an old coal depot site at Grovesend, near Pontarddulais, had been recommended for approval.

Two community councils and the West Glamorgan Commoners' Association had written letters of objection, while 90 people had signed a petition.

Egan Metals was planning to move its business from Gorseinon to the new site in Grovesend.

Planning officers had hoped that this would free up the Gorseinon site for housing development.

Planners had admitted that the application, which is in open countryside, "departs from the provisions of the development plan".

There were concerns that the development would set a precedent for other industrial sites in rural locations, and that the planned scrap yard was on common land.

However, planning officers recommended it for approval on the grounds that it "provides an economic use for previously developed land within the open countryside".

Objectors to the proposal feared it would lead to contamination, making it less likely it would be returned to public use.