Following the Flintshire County Council planning committee's decision on 2nd February, meetings were called by CANK at Buckley on 9th February and by the Community Council of Penyffordd on 11th February.
 
 

At the Buckley meeting the strength of feeling against the pro Padeswood councillors was tangible. So much so, that moves were made for a CANK supported petition to remove the current Buckley mayor, Cllr David Messham, who had supported the Padeswood application. In fairness, CANK could not and would not support that move, pointing out that ward voters and individual residents alone were perfectly entitled to express their opinions to their councillors and should do so.

Questions were also asked as to how the county councillors could ignore the fact that community/town councils in Leeswood; Argoed; Penyffordd; Penymynydd; and Buckley had ALL voted to REJECT the plans. CANK's chairman pointed out that the rules of local government obliged the councillors to remember that their duty was to all of their residents and not simply to protect the jobs of a limited number.

The attendees were unanimous in condemning the county councillors' decision and equally unanimous in wishing to support CANK's continuing efforts to overturn what was a procedurally questionable and patently undemocratic decision.
 
 

At the Penyffordd meeting around about 300 people listened to Brian Wake, one of CANK's legal advisors, as he outlined the legal position and answered many questions on the legal aspects of the planning application and events surrounding it.

CANK's chairman again pointed out the departure of the pro-Padeswood county councillors from the admonishment to act in the interests of the WHOLE community. He went on to explain that whilst CANK's supporters have been described as 'hysterical', he and others had indulged in many months of investigation and enquiry and a very steep learning curve before coming to the conclusion that there were very real concerns that should be brought out in to the open and democratically considered by way of public enquiry. He and other councillors at town level had taken the trouble to enquire among the community and were of the opinion that has accurately been reported by Cllr Neville Phillips in the Council Chamber on February 2nd, that 80% of those contacted, or who had expressed an opinion, were concerned about the health aspects of this planning application.

Cllr Woolley, CANK chairman, questioned how this could have been overlooked or ignored by the voting councillors on the 2nd February.

He also pointed out the he believed the committee's deliberations were procedurally flawed and that this had been already acted upon by both himself and the legal advisors. He also expressed his deep concern at the treatment of Cllr Derek Darlington in the run up to the planning meeting.

Arnold Woolley made the point that  Castle Cement's representatives are claiming that CANK has publicly repudiated the work  and reports of  Dr Dick van Steenis. Cllr Woolley drew attention to the fact that the only aspect had been an alleged suggestion, made by Cllr K Iball in the planning committee chamber that Dr van Steenis had called for the prosecution of any councillor that voted for the Padeswood proposal. He reiterated CANK's support for almost all the views expressed by Dr van Steenis.

In response to a question from the floor, the CANK chairman pointed out that the ultimate sanction over any councillor at any level always lies in the hands of the voters and, in his opinion, if certain councillors believe that this affair will all be forgotten when next they come to the ballot in just over 3 years time, they will be very much mistaken.
This view was roundly endorsed by those present.

In support of comments made by the chairman of the meeting, Cllr Darlington, Mr Woolley also appealed for as many individual letters of objection to be sent to Peter Law at the Welsh National Assembly as possible.
He acknowledged the excellent footwork done in recent days by the many individuals who have been raising petitions; obtaining signatures on pro-forma letters; and lobbying councillors and others.
He encouraged the co-operative participation of other groups such as Friends of the Earth and PANTS.

He also pointed out that it was interesting that he was beginning to be on the receiving end of discreet information from people with both careers and consciences and advised the meeting that many matters of interest were now beginning to come together.

In conclusion, he reflected that this issue would be resolved by 'people power' and it was, therefore, essential that those present and any of like mind, particularly outside of Flintshire, should represent their concerns to the Welsh National Assembly.