 Protesters oppose plans to extend the life of the Cilgwyn tip for 20 years |
The suitability of two new potential sites for landfill waste identified by Gwynedd County Council are being questioned by local councillors. The new sites are former quarries at Pant Glas and Bryncir - both on the road between Caernarfon and Porthmadog.
Meanwhile campaigners against plans to extend the life of the current landfill site at Cilgwyn above the Nantlle Valley are stepping up their campaign.
On Friday night they meet the local MP and assembly member.
Local councillor for Bryncir Stephen Churchman said: "I am concerned about the location because it is potentially right near houses, depending where on the site they would use.
"The feeling I have is that the council are keeping this site as one in their pocket in case they need somewhere in the future".
'Closure timetable'
Cefn Graianog, a sand and gravel quarry near Pant Glas is in the ward of councillor Owain Williams, who said he was not aware that that quarry had been named for potential waste.
"This is a far from an ideal situation for a landfill site as it does not have substantial quarry holes, so the waste would essentially be on the surface," he said.
Gwynedd council is having to look at the issue of how and where its waste is dealt with because it is running out of space and its current landfill site at Cilgwyn has been refused a licence to continue to operate.
 |  Even then there will be a need for a landfill site of some kind, but high up above a valley is not the place to have it |
The company which runs Cilgwyn, Cwmni Gwastraff M�n/Arfon, was set up by both Gwynedd and Anglesey County Councils.
The Environment Agency refused an operating permit for the tip in August 2004 but it can carry on working there pending an appeal.
"The decision on closure of the Faengoch quarry hole (at Cilgwyn) is not one that will be taken by the council," said a Gwynedd council spokesman.
"However, the council is clearly interested in decisions that will be taken by others on the closure timetable for Faengoch, as it will have an effect on the disposal of waste not only from houses but from businesses as well," he added.
Incinerators
An Environment Agency spokesman said a decision was expected to be made by the end of March 2006.
Sandra Hilton, who lives near Cilgwyn, above the Nantlle Valley, wants a 20-year extension to the tip refused, she said the council should concentrate more on recycling.
"Even then there will be a need for a landfill site of some kind, but high up above a valley is not the place to have it." she said.
Assembly member Alun Ffred Jones said he "sympathised" with people who lived near the Cilgwyn tip.
"Unfortunately we all produce waste, but none of us wants a landfill site near our homes," he said.
"I will listen to residents concerns and do my best to look after their interests, but at the end of the day the waste will have to go somewhere.
"The way ahead is to recycle more, and we may have to make use of incinerators, but there will still be waste which will have to be disposed of - and no-one wants an incinerator near their homes either".
Meanwhile, Anglesey council's main landfill site at Penhesgyn near Menai Bridge is due to close within the year, and the authority has yet to make a decision on how to dispose of the county's waste after that.
The public meeting will be held on Friday at Carmel village hall at 1930 GMT.
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