‘THE COAL TIPS MUST BE REMOVED’
Six months ago a report revealed that nearly 300 coal tips in Wales were classified as ‘high risk’. Political editor-at-large Martin Shipton sought a progress report from the Welsh Government
SIX months ago a report revealed that nearly 300 coal tips in Wales were classified as ‘high risk’. Political editor-at-large Martin Shipton sought a progress report from the Welsh Government and gives his verdict on the emotive issue.
FIFTY-FIVE years after the tragedy of Aberfan, experts from a UK Government body and relevant Welsh councils are meticulously inspecting the visible above-ground remnants of Wales’ once-mighty coal industry.
No-one needs reminding of the landslip that caused the deaths of 116 children and 28 adults in the village near Merthyr Tydfil on October 21, 1966.
But it should never be forgotten that the disaster was avoidable and that culpability for the gross negligence that occurred lies with the National Coal Board (NCB).
Today, the successor body to the NCB is known as the Coal Authority.
It is directly answerable to Westminster’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
While the Coal Authority is responsible for licensing coal-mining operations in Britain, it is appropriate that the UK Government document which describes its purpose begins with the statement: “The Authority works to protect the public and the environment in mining areas in England, Wales and Scotland. It is working towards becoming a world leader in resolving the impacts of mining.”
However, in February 2020, 60,000 tonnes of slurry were dislodged from a coal tip at Tylorstown, Rhondda, during extreme rainfall. Mercifully no-one was injured.
The incident prompted a review of all the coal tips in the south Wales valleys.
Understandably, there was serious concern in February this year when it emerged that of the 2,144 coal tips that remain in Wales, some 294 are categorised as “high risk”, meaning they could endanger life or property.
Seventy of these high-risk tips are in Caerphilly, 64 in Rhondda Cynon Taf, 59 in Merthyr Tydfil, 42 in Bridgend, 35 in Neath Port Talbot, 16 in Blaenau Gwent and eight in Swansea.
Speaking at the time, Rhondda MP Chris Bryant said: “It’s shocking that no proper register of disused coal tips was made when the mines closed, so this work is long overdue.” The inspection work is ongoing. Mr Bryant said: “With so many [tips] on private land this is going to be a massive and complex piece of work in which Parliament and Senedd must work together.
“My biggest fear is [Chancellor] Rishi Sunak will demand that local councils pay for this out of their council tax but the poorest communities in the UK should not be forced to pay for tidying up our national industrial heritage.”
Coal Authority chief executive Lisa Pinney said managing tips on hillsides was key to reducing risk to communities.
Responding to the confirmation that nearly 300 of the tips were high risk, she said: “... That really just means that they needed much more regular attention and inspection to make sure they stay safe.”
When there were concerns, action would be taken.
“Any tip which is old mining material sitting on a hillside can pose a risk, obviously, but the key thing to their safety is to manage water and keep it away,” said Ms Pinney.
“And that’s why these inspections and maintenance are so important.”
Lesley Griffiths, the relevant Welsh Government minister in February, said: “The longer-term policy objective is to develop a consistent approach for use across Wales for risk assessments and risk categories. Management controls, including a central database, for all tips will also be developed.
“A robust inspection and maintenance regime will ensure safeguarding our communities remains a priority, with people living near coal tips feeling safe and secure. The taskforce has also been working with the All Wales Risk Group to raise awareness with local resilience forums about coal tip safety links to Community Risk Registers and Emergency Plans.”
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “The safety of our communities is paramount and, since February 2020, work has continued to identify all coal tips in Wales and assign each tip with an interim risk category.
“Inspections help provide clarity on routine maintenance requirements, help to identify any potential stability issues and whether work needs to be carried out immediately or within the next three to 12 months.
Local authorities and the Coal Authority have undertaken two rounds of ground inspections of disused coal tips, with a third round scheduled to begin this autumn.
“We are currently developing a long-term reclamation and repurposing programme for disused coal tips, which will not only seek to address the longer-term impacts of climate change, but also look at the wider economic, social and environmental benefits coal tips could provide for Welsh communities.”
At the same time, at the request of
We are currently developing a long-term reclamation and repurposing programme for disused coal tips
Welsh Government spokesman
the Welsh Government, the Law Commission is carrying out an independent review of legislation on disused coal tips.
The existing legislation is now out of date; having been introduced for an active mining industry, it no longer provides an effective management regime for the over 2,000 disused coal tips in Wales.
The Law Commission’s consultation on Regulating Coal Tip Safety in Wales is open for responses until September 10. The Commission is due to submit its recommendations to the Welsh Government in early 2022.
The spokesman added: “The Welsh Government is committed to introducing new coal tip safety legislation for Wales. If anyone has concerns about coal tip safety, they are advised to contact the Coal Authority’s coal tip safety team via Freephone number 0800 021 9230 or email: tips@coal.gov.uk.”
It’s not too harsh to say that it seems the authorities are now playing catch-up.
The Tylorstown landslip could have had far more serious consequences.
Climate change is providing us with further challenges that were previously unrecognised and which underline the need for constant vigilance of a kind that has been absent in the past.
Regardless of the cost, it’s time Wales’ coal tips were removed.