Residents near Cardiff’s steelworks are frustrated as dust storms worsen, prompting calls for action and a request for extended construction timelines.
Cardiff: A steelworks in the area is causing quite a stir among locals. They’re fed up with dust storms that blanket their streets. Celsa Manufacturing UK is asking for more time to expand its facility and build a new chimney.
Back in 2020, they got the green light to extend part of their site at Rover Way and put up a new 60-meter-high furnace stack. But now, they want to push back the deadline to start the work by another five years.
Last year, residents in Tremorfa voiced their frustrations. They claim their homes are constantly covered in dust from the steelworks. One local, Peter Ewers, described living near the plant as a “nightmare.”
Peter, who’s 56, mentioned that they often can’t open their windows because they don’t want dust blowing in. It’s getting out of hand, he said. If you hang clothes outside overnight, you’ll have to wash them again in the morning.
He recalled a day last February when he was out walking his dog. He saw what looked like a dust storm rolling in. Many folks he spoke to don’t want the steelworks to shut down, but they do want the dust problem fixed.
A dust impact assessment from Earth and Marine Environmental Consultants confirmed that there are dust emissions at the steelworks. The report noted that the scrap metal used doesn’t usually create much dust unless it’s being processed.
Some residents shared that their cars often get covered in dust. Celsa’s planned extension aims to house a new reheat furnace and other facilities. However, they need to start the work by January 16, 2025, according to the original permission.
In a planning statement, Celsa mentioned they’re making progress but likely won’t be ready to start by the deadline. They’re asking for an additional five years to get things rolling, hoping to kick off the development in 2025.
