CAMPAIGNERS against a new garbage disposal plant say their argument has been strengthened after the closure of operator HLC's other plant in Neath Port Talbot.

When the idea for a pyrolysis and gasification plant on Wrexham Industrial Estate was first submitted, Neath Port Talbot was held up as an example of the technology in action, despite it being closed at the time after a fire.

Last month a delegation of Wrexham councillors was supposed to travel down to the plant to see it in operation but this was cancelled at the last minute, due to what the company said was a 'routine shutdown'.

In fact, the plant had been closed down by HLC after neighbouring residents complained about the foul smells coming from it, something the Environment Agency backed up when its own investigations led it to the plant as the source of the smells.

HLC insisted the smell was minor but agreed to close the plant while investigations were ongoing.

In the meantime the company was fined £4,000 with £4,000 costs for the fire. Since the incident a new management team has been put in place.

HLC's plant uses heat treatment processes that do not use oxygen to break down non-recyclable rubbish into ash rather than burning it and sending noxious chemicals into the atmosphere.

Chris Pilsbury, of Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru (TCC), the Welsh organisation of communities, said that these developments strengthened the case against the Resource Recovery Centre.

'There are so many problems connected to the current site and the one in Wrexham will be bigger,' she said.

'There are excessive flies there and they are breeding, which is a breach of the license the Environment Agency gave HLC.

'There are also odours which people have complained about. We believe that HLC must prove that these things will not happen in Wrexham.'

An HLC spokesman said the Neath Port Talbot problems were almost cleared up and it was hoped the plant would be operating fully in the near future.

He said liaison meetings are held regularly with residents to give them a chance to discuss concerns and was aware of residents' complaints.

But he maintained the odours which had emanated from the plant a few weeks ago were very mild and the plant was operating strictly to Environment Agency rules since it changed the management team.