Photo credit: arstechnica.com
Howells has expressed his vision for transforming the landfill site into a park; however, the council’s assessment indicates that this may not be a feasible option. The council also pointed out the lack of alternative locations for the solar farm project, emphasizing that construction must take place at the landfill site to avoid hindering the city’s climate objectives.
In the event that his park initiative does not materialize, Howells suggested the possibility of simply clearing the site for reuse as a landfill.
Nevertheless, the Newport council does not seem receptive to Howells’ latest proposal, much like it rejected his previous suggestion to share profits from his bitcoin investments if granted permission to excavate the landfill. A spokesperson for the council reiterated in response to Howells’ recent offer that he forfeited ownership of the bitcoins when the hard drive was discarded in the landfill, asserting that any excavation plans would incur “a prohibitively high cost.”
“We have been very clear and consistent in our responses that we cannot assist Mr. Howells in this matter,” the spokesperson stated. “Our position has not changed.”
Howells maintains his proposal is “logical”
Despite the council’s stance, Howells conveyed to The Guardian that he found it surprising to discover the city’s plans to close the landfill, which are scheduled for the 2025–26 financial year. He noted that this information was not disclosed during the legal proceedings, where the council argued that closing the landfill to facilitate his search would significantly harm the local community.
Howells reflected on the situation, stating, “I expected it would be closed in the coming years because it’s 80–90 percent full—but didn’t expect its closure so soon.” He further indicated an interest in purchasing the landfill site in its current state and mentioned having discussions about this possibility with prospective investors, suggesting that it remains a viable option he is considering.
Source
arstechnica.com