Carmarthenshire’s Old Landfill Site to Transform into Solar Farm

Carmarthen: Exciting news! Plans for a solar farm on a former landfill site have been given the green light. They’re going to set up twenty-two rows of solar panels at the Nantycaws waste management site, which is managed by Cwm Environmental Ltd, a council-run organization.

The energy produced will power the facility, especially since the gas from the old landfill is running low. The planning committee noted that the closest homes are about 450 meters away, and there’s a line of trees nearby. Plus, they’ll plant a new hedgerow on the western side to keep things looking nice.

Planning officer Helen Rice mentioned that the site is elevated, but views into it are pretty limited. She assured everyone that the solar farm wouldn’t harm the landscape enough to turn it down. The old landfill has been capped and covered with soil, and they plan to manage the grassland to boost biodiversity.

During construction, they expect around 110 vehicle trips over three to six months. Vehicles will only be able to turn left onto the A48, which is a busy road. The Welsh Government didn’t object to the plans but asked for an updated construction management plan.

The planning department recommended approval, but one councillor, Gareth Thomas, voted against it. He thinks the solar farm is a great idea but worries about the safety of the A48 as the waste site expands. He believes more pressure should be put on the South Wales Trunk Road Agency to address these concerns. Another councillor, Elwyn Williams, mentioned there might be plans for a new intersection at the A48 and the Nantycaws access road.