Landfill payment halts Assembly budget

Labour's Assembly budget plans were halted on Wednesday as Plaid Cymru, the Tories, the Liberal Democrats and independent members united behind a list of additions to the budget.

Among the additions are cash for the Wrexham to London rail link and - more relevantly for us - a commitment to fund any compensation claim arising from landfill issues from central rather than local government. This is a direct result of pressure over Hafod quarry, where irresponsible politicians at local and national level have bandied about the sum of £10m as a possible compensation claim by Murkey Waste.

The budget has now had to go back for further talks and it's likely the opposition parties - who outnumber Labour by 30-29 - will be able to force through the amendment.

If so, it will guarantee that Wrexham Council will not have to pay out any money in the unlikely event that a compensation case would be made by the tippers.