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Protesters spend night on crane | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Police have cautioned three people for trespass after they spent a night on a crane protesting at the design of a new water treatment plant. | |
The three, including a 67-year-old man, began the protest at Glyntawe in the Brecon Beacons national park on Sunday, unveiling a banner. | |
They claim the plant looks like a World War II concrete bunker. | |
But Welsh Water said the building would blend in with the area when finished and will be estensively landscaped. | |
Dyfed-Powys Police said they were called at 0730 BST on Monday. The three men - Jeremy Watts, Ashford Price and Steve Rose - were later arrested and given a caution for aggravated trespass. | |
An action group has been formed in Glyntawe called We Want Out. | An action group has been formed in Glyntawe called We Want Out. |
It is calling for the building, which campaigners say is 40ft (12.1m) high and 80ft (24.3m) long, to have a Welsh slate roof and stone cladding on its walls. | It is calling for the building, which campaigners say is 40ft (12.1m) high and 80ft (24.3m) long, to have a Welsh slate roof and stone cladding on its walls. |
The water treatment plant is being built in the Brecon Beacons | The water treatment plant is being built in the Brecon Beacons |
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water plans to cover the building in multi-coloured tin sheets, which the group says is unacceptable for a national park. | Dwr Cymru Welsh Water plans to cover the building in multi-coloured tin sheets, which the group says is unacceptable for a national park. |
Brecon Beacons National Park Authority said it had invited villagers to meet its chief executive to discuss it. | Brecon Beacons National Park Authority said it had invited villagers to meet its chief executive to discuss it. |
The group said the plans were originally rejected by the park's planners but was overruled by the committee. | The group said the plans were originally rejected by the park's planners but was overruled by the committee. |
We Want Out said the campaign had the backing of 60 households in the area. | We Want Out said the campaign had the backing of 60 households in the area. |
James Price, a member of We Want Out, told BBC Wales every other building in the area had to be made of local stone. | James Price, a member of We Want Out, told BBC Wales every other building in the area had to be made of local stone. |
"In some ways you can't blame Welsh Water because they got planning permission [to build the plant this way], they're just doing what it said on the tin," he said. | |
"There are any amount of things that can be done to landscape the building." | "There are any amount of things that can be done to landscape the building." |
Mr Price feels the park authority should not have granted permission for the plant in its current form in the first place. | Mr Price feels the park authority should not have granted permission for the plant in its current form in the first place. |
He said the protesters had the full backing of the community. | |
"We're trying to get [Welsh Water] to take us seriously.... The protest will have achieved its aims if it gets people talking to us. | "We're trying to get [Welsh Water] to take us seriously.... The protest will have achieved its aims if it gets people talking to us. |
Mr Price added: "You drive up or down the valley or walk on the mountain, it's there in front of you. Why it wasn't all buried underground I don't know. We're left with this monstrosity." | Mr Price added: "You drive up or down the valley or walk on the mountain, it's there in front of you. Why it wasn't all buried underground I don't know. We're left with this monstrosity." |
A spokeswoman for Welsh Water said they had met community leaders last week to discuss the plant, adding: "Once the structure is complete it will be finished to blend in with the natural environment and will be extensively landscaped, to screen it from the nearby road and the neighbouring properties. | A spokeswoman for Welsh Water said they had met community leaders last week to discuss the plant, adding: "Once the structure is complete it will be finished to blend in with the natural environment and will be extensively landscaped, to screen it from the nearby road and the neighbouring properties. |
"We have assured the group that we will respond fully on the matters discussed later this week." | "We have assured the group that we will respond fully on the matters discussed later this week." |
A spokeswoman for the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority said nobody had objected to the planning application when consulted in November 2006. | |
"Even so, when the authority was approached by a group of residents expressing their concern we immediately met with them and Welsh Water to discuss steps to further change the appearance of the building," she added. | |
"We arranged a meeting with the Action Group last week but they refused to attend." |
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