NRW Consults On Permit Applications For Activities In Llanberis

Natural Resources Wales is asking people for their views on a company’s permit applications in relation to a hydro-electric scheme in Llanberis, Gwynedd. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A drop-in session on Tuesday 22 March 2016 at First Hydro Visitor Centre (3pm-7pm), Llanberis will gather local people’s views on Snowdonia Pumped Hydro’s permit applications. The applications relate to proposed water discharge activities at Llanberis, required to operate the pumped storage facility for the hydroelectric scheme at Glyn Rhonwy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

NRW is now carrying out an in-depth assessment of the applications, gathering advice and technical evidence so that we can confidently conclude whether to grant or refuse a permit. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dylan Williams, Operations Manager for NRW, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Llyn Padarn is a vitally important natural asset for the area. We will conduct a thorough assessment of the company’s proposals to ensure they wouldn’t cause environmental damage before deciding on whether or not to issue permits. Among other considerations, Llyn Padarn’s bathing water is of excellent quality and we will have to be satisfied that this will remain the case. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We will only issue an environmental permit if we are wholly satisfied that the company’s plans prove they will operate safely, without harming the environment or local communities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

NRW has also received a request for a variation to the water abstraction permit issued to the company in July 2015 with strict conditions that will be monitored. The variation covers an application to increase the abstraction rate and amend the point of abstraction. This will also be under discussion at the drop-in session. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Natural Resources Wales’s role is to examine the applications and decide whether to grant a permit or refuse the application. We will consider all relevant information raised during the consultation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The discharge activities permit consultation runs until 6April 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Electronic copies can be requested from permittingconsultations@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk or by ringing the Customer Contact Centre 0300 065 3000. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Environmental permits are separate from the planning process, which is managed by Gwynedd Council and the Planning Inspectorate. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To operate this kind of facility legally, a company needs environmental permits as well as planning permission. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​