LNG: Who foots the bill?

From the archive, first published Thursday 19th Jan 2006.

THE LNG developments may be in the national interest, but unless something changes, it's the Pembrokeshire taxpayer who'll have to foot the bill for many of the negative effects of the construction process.

So says a new report into the social impact of LNG, which acknowledges that while many `locals' will find employment on the sites, the developments are also racking up big bills for the council and the police.

The council is affected in many ways, from the cost of road improvements to work involved in dealing with the planning applications.

The police also need more officers to deal with crime committed by LNG workers without diluting the existing service.

The report recommends that talks take place with the Welsh Assembly and central government to try and secure extra resources so Pembrokeshire people don't have to pay the price for something which will benefit the UK as a whole.

LNG must leave a legacy for Pembrokeshire

Preseli MP Stephen Crabb said: "I was very concerned to read the report. Although it is quite poorly written and makes some unsupported claims, it does raise some vitally important issues which cannot be ignored.

"Right from the start of the LNG projects I have said that there must be an economic and social pay-off for the people of Pembrokeshire.

"We have seen an increase in economic activity in the county and a continued fall in unemployment. However, there is unquestionably added pressures being placed on key local services, most importantly housing and transport.

"Given the size and complexity of the projects, I think it's right that LNG developers foot the bill for the planning work carried out at county hall. The planning department has been under huge pressure in recent years and LNG has contributed to that.

"I was disappointed that the original Section 106 Agreements were so thin; I still believe the council could have got more without risking an appeal from the developers.

"The two LNG projects must leave a legacy for Pembrokeshire in terms of real improvements to the quality of life for local people.

"I want to see visible improvements in the communities of Waterston and Herbrandston and significant improvements in the road network serving the construction sites."

More police needed

The report says that because of "the nature of construction work, the age cohort and lifestyle of many of the travelling men," the incidence of crime is likely to be higher than for the population as a whole.

Between May and October last year, the police have had to attend approximately 30 incidents that have occurred as a direct result of LNG construction, ranging from allegations of theft to rape.

A typical offence resulting from a suspicion of indecent assault involved 120 hours of investigation at a cost of approximately £1,850, interpreter's costs of £5,000 and custody costs of more than £2,000.

When it was assumed the developments would attract up to 3,000 travelling men, it was considered that an extra four sergeants and 17 constables would be needed, and another 16 members of staff to address LNG-related policing.

The number of travelling men, employed on LNG and on the two power stations, has now been re-estimated as peaking at around 2,000.

Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police, Terry Grange, said: "The government haven't provided any funding towards extra resources for the policing of the LNG, and the Police Authority cannot provide any funding towards it.

"But, it is important to note that although we haven't had extra resources, overall crime in Pembrokeshire was reduced by 7%, and there was a 13% reduction in violent crime up to December 2005."

Six-figure planning and legal costs

Though Pembrokeshire County Council and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority received thousands of pounds in fees for processing the LNG planning applications, those fees were far outweighed by the actual cost of doing so.

Those costs were also increased by the work involved in fighting the application for judicial review launched by two members of pressure group Safe Haven.

For the South Hook site, the National Park Authority received £16,250. For South Hook and Dragon, the council received £33,880. But the cost so far to NPA is at least £100,000 and, to the council, £152,000.

The NPA was awarded full costs in respect of the LNG judicial review but as the applicants were on Legal Aid, no costs were forthcoming. Milford Haven Port Authority says it has also spent around £89,000 on legal fees associated with the judicial review.

The report states: "It is considered inappropriate for local council taxpayers to bear the costs of processing applications which are clearly in the national interest."

20,000 more traffic movements a day

When LNG construction is at its peak, there will be an extra 20,000 traffic movements a day, council research indicates.

To cater for that traffic increase, a series of road improvements is needed.

In the longer term, the report says, a comprehensive review of transport requirements should be undertaken in view of Milford's emerging status as the largest concentration of energy supply in the country.

Among the work which should be carried now, the report says, are: * improvements to the Steynton crossroads and Sunnycroft junction * widening of Bulford Road to a standard two-way carriageway * reviews of the impact of LNG traffic on Marble Hall crossroads and Coombes Road junction.

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