Walk Around Wales

This Facebook post was made on Councillor Simon Knoyle's councillor specific facebook account on 24 March 2021. At the time, he had more than one facebook account but this is the one he used to conduct his business as a councillor. He is a Neath Port Talbot County Borough County Councillor and also a Glynneath Town Councillor.

We believe the stimulus for this post was almost certainly the post the day before about the Erin Brokovich anniversary by Dai Richards on Glynneath News and Views which mentioned that the Glynneath Town Councillors Simon Knoyle & Del Morgan had been asked to find out which Chromium it was that was present on the Heol-y-Glyn landfill site and were still waiting for the answer.

"A local chemist identified that if the levels found in the report were Chromium 6 then this would potentially be harmful to the residents of Glynneath, so we asked Del Morgan and Simon Knoyle to find out from NPT Council what type of Chromium it was. We are still waiting for the answer." (Glynneath News and Views Post)

The following information is an exchange between Councillor Simon Knoyle and a concerned grandmother whose son's family lived next to the site. Within the first week of them moving in they were flooded twice, the cause of the flooding was straw from bales placed by the developer Enzo Homes next to a stream bordering their property, thereby blocking the tunnel into which the stream flowed. This happened the week before Christmas.

This page contains the basic information only, for an analysis of the information and additional information related to this exchange, please click on the link below.

Councillor Simon Knoyle & Concerned Grandmother exchange analysis.


I apologise for the amount of posts today and the length of them, this one is a little shorter �� I have been asked to scrutinise and ask questions on several issues regarding the Proposed Residential Development at the Heol y Glyn Site, this I have done. I have a file of information relating to this and copies of all e-mails sent and received on the subject. This information is in relation to the historical nature of the site. The East Glynneath Residents Group have also received this information directly from NPTCBC but have not published this for anyone to see. ? Moving forward and aside from NPTCBC, I have also received information directly from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) as to the land in question. The land has had several tests carried out on it and I have a copy of the recent WAC (Waste Acceptance Criteria) Tests which were carried out. NRW are a Welsh Gov Sponsored Body who act as a regulator to protect people and the environment across Wales. I do not support corruption and am here to help, support and assist all residents (where possible) who live within the area that I was elected. At the Planning Meeting in September 2020, myself and others including Glynneath Town Council made sure that further testing of the site was put into the Conditions so that the Developers were bound by these conditions and would need to close them out. Because of the sale of the land in question, this process is still ongoing and has not been resolved as yet. It’s not my place to speak negatively of anyone, I would however say that you attract more bees with honey. Attacking and bullying people who are there to help and support is clearly not going to get anyone anywhere, fast. When this happens, it gets to the point where replies sent are rubbished and the responder feels that there is no point in taking the conversation further. I am happy to go through this information with residents who wish to have a proactive and positive discussion. Please get in touch, I have already one resident who wishes to meet up to review with me and we hope to get together later this week. Thanks


Concerned Grandmother to Simon Knoyle - My Son , daughter in law and baby Granddaughter moved in just below the site at number 2 Brynhyfryd. In December. They’ve already experienced two floods due to the giant haystack down the drains. I don’t know a lot about this site but as my family are living right there, it’s a very big concern. So the site was proved to be contaminated with Chromium? If so why wasn’t there an order for it to be cleaned up then?? I really don’t want my family living there if there is any danger.


Simon Knoyle to Concerned Grandmother - Good morning Concerned Grandmother, let me know when you are available and I can run through the information I have with you. Thanks


Concerned Grandmother to Simon Knoyle - I don’t think we need a private meeting to be honest . I just need answers to my few questions . Thank you .


Simon Knoyle to Concerned Grandmother - Hi Concerned Grandmother, your question to me asks - “so the site was proved to be contaminated with Chromium?” Answer - No, from the information I have received, I dont think that the site has been proven to be contaminated with Chromium. Thanks


Concerned Grandmother to Simon Knoyle - thanks for replying. So to your knowledge or any information you have to date. Is there any other known contamination of any description other than Chromium on the Enzo site at Heol y Glyn Glynneath? Thank you.


Simon Knoyle to Concerned Grandmother - Good morning Concerned Grandmother, thank you for your question, from the information that I have which in my Job as your Son’s County Cllr, I have sought from the relevant organisations involved in this scheme, there have been at least 3 sets of testing carried out recently. It is worth noting at this stage that both Ward Members and Glynneath Town Council have requested that further and additional deeper testing be carried out on the site, this was included as part of the revised Conditions imposed on the previous owner of the site. It is also worth noting that the site is no longer owned by Enzo Homes and has been purchased by another Developer who I have also spoken with. The test results indicated that the site had a small number of known contaminants which can be remediated, most land across Wales is contaminated but it is the levels of those contaminants which vary. The NPTCBC Contaminated Land Officer has confirmed this. You asked specifically if I am aware of any other known contamination on the site - the reason that I have answered in this fashion is because we have asked for additional and deeper testing to determine if there is any unknown contamination on the site, we were asked by several residents of Glynneath to impose this condition on the Developer to ensure that this is dealt with. Thanks



Thanks Simon for your time and for your lengthy reply. But all I’m really asking is for ALL land test results for said land. Regardless of how far back they go. From the ones many years ago to the most recent you mentioned. Therefore I can make an informed decision as to whether my family should remain living at Brynhyfryd at present. Regardless of any future testing , my main concern is the here and now. Thank you from a very concerned Mother.


Simon Knoyle to Concerned Grandmother - that’s ok Concerned Grandmother, I understand completely, because of the comments made and in order that you obtain the necessary information that you are looking for, I would suggest that u write to the Head of Planning and request all of the test information they have. At least that way you will be sure of obtaining the correct, most up to date and factual information. C.morris1@npt.gov.uk Ceri is the Head of Planning. No one can doubt the validity if received directly. As your Sons local Cllr, please copy me in and tell Ceri that we have chatted.

On Simon Knoyle's next post this is what Concerned Grandmother said.............