Plaid Cymru AM Dr. Dai Lloyd has issued a statement of support to the protestors at the National Grid construction site at Trebanos.

The group, which has camped inside a gas pipeline since Monday, has now been asked to leave the site by landowner Ira Wynne Jones, following discussions with National Grid representatives on Tuesday.

Dr. Lloyd stated:

“The protestors at Trebanos are fighting for a just cause. I share their concerns with regards to the impact that this pipeline is to have on the Welsh landscape and for little material return.

“There are significant concerns with regards to health and safety with this project. The pipe is a huge project which will span the length of South Wales, closely passing towns and villages in the process. You have to recognise that places such as Trebanos and Cilfrew are very close to the development and this is bound to worry local residents.

“It is churning up the countryside and it seems that National Grid are just bulldozing their way through in order to complete this project, often issuing compulsory purchase orders on landowners even though they have not secured planning permission for a number of key stations along the route.

“There has been a serious lack of consultation with the public and a void in terms of public debate on the issue within local communities that are likely to be affected. The whole process has been a farce and I support the campaigners in raising the issue with the public. There can be no doubt that the protest has increased people’s understanding of the issues involved.”

Diwedd/Ends.