Neath-Port Talbot council are building a waste incinerator in a Public Private partnership with the Portuguese company, HLC. The Incinerator is right on the border with Swansea County and most of the housed that will be blighted and affected by pollution are in Swansea.

For over a year StIC have mounted a campaign against the Incinerator, challenging much of the data put forward by HLC and delaying the project wherever possible. Protests have included 2 blockades of the building site and many rallies in Swansea.

Neath-Port Talbot council are the instigators of this and it was felt that it was time to bring the protest home to them. Protestors posed as window cleaners to get a ladder up to the balcony, then lowered a banner stating “council Tax up in smoke, Paying for Pollution.“ Leaflets detailing how the costs of disposal rather than recycling were being put onto council tax bills were distributed and good-natured chanting continued from the balcony.

The police arrived on foot, looking rather flustered and insisted the balcony must be cleared. Between negotiating with the protestors and the council (who at first stated that protestors must leave the way they came, on a ladder), it took another half an hour before the protest finished.

Close on one thousand leaflets were handed out and the overall impression was that the campaign has as much sympathy in these areas as it does in Swansea. It is hope this can be brought to bear at the next council elections.

The Next protest will be outside the Environment Agency on Friday may 3rd at 12.30pm. This is the date the agency has given for a decision on the Incinerators licence to operate.