OPPONENTS are battling plans for a recycling plant, capable of handling 20,000 tonnes of waste near the village of Raglan.

Members of Raglan community council raised serious concerns about the proposal by a firm called Wormtech for a composting facility for biodegradable waste at Lower Penyclawdd Farm, Dingestow, during a recent meeting.

Some community councillors visited a facility in Dorset which receives and processes 7,000 tonnes of waste each year.

Councillor Trevor Phillips said the facility stands on a four-acre concrete block where material is processed in a tank.

He said it was a well-run site, but was concerned about the impact of material draining into the ground at the Raglan facility.

Councillor Phillips said: "If this leaches into the ground, the ground is beyond renewal. It will never grow anything again."

Councillor Dennis Brown also criticised the lack of detailed information about the Raglan facility on the planning application.

He said: "I feel we have been completely ignored. We know nothing about the process, what goes on and how it is to be transported.

"I just feel we are being bulldozed into something we are not really happy with. I think we should be meeting with the planning committee to find out what they are doing."

Andrew Crump, a county councillor who is also on the planning committee, said it would be possible for local members to raise concerns with planners at a meeting on February 10.

Travelrest Services, operators of Little Chef and Travelodge at the A40 Raglan service area, have also lodged a formal objection to the plant, saying it will have a detrimental impact on business and result in a loss of trade.

They say Environment Agency guidelines state composting can harm the health of humans and animals if they are situated for long periods within 250 metres of composting operations.

The service station, along with residential properties, are within a 250-metre radius of the Raglan site and Travelrest say their employees and customers may be subject to high levels of harmful bioaerosols.

The company have also raised concerns about the narrow access track to the site and are concerned vehicles visiting the site may seek to use the road into the service area as a quicker route.