CALL FOR REVIEW OF FORMER COAL MINING SITES

THE UK Environment Secretary has faced calls to fund an urgent review of all former coal mining sites in the south Wales area in the wake of the floods.

Welsh Labour MPs raised concerns in the Commons over the former coal sites as they pressed for the “necessary funding” to guard against any possible repeats of what happened in Aberfan.

Ogmore’s Labour MP Chris Elmore insisted the UK was responsible for the management of all former coal sites.

Speaking during a Commons statement giving a flooding update, George Eustice revealed that the secretary of state for Wales met the First Minister yesterday “where this was one of the issues discussed”.

Pontypridd’s Labour MP Alex Davies-Jones said: “The secretary of state will be aware of the horrendous and unprecedented flooding that hit my constituency of Pontypridd last week.

“Our area has never been hit with flooding and landslides like we have seen and my community and local authority simply couldn’t have prepared for this amount of rainfall and devastation.

“Would the secretary of state agree with me that we urgently need to see better protections and will he fund an urgent review of all the former coal mining sites in the South Wales area and bring forward the necessary funding to ensure the safety of all of our communities?”

Mr Eustice’s response that “this is a devolved matter” drew heckles from the Labour benches who insisted: “It’s not.”

Mr Eustice said: “Flood response and dealing with the result of floods is a devolved matter, but we do have arrangements across the UK to support one another when one area is particularly affected, but if (she) would like to write to me with her suggestions I would be more than happy to discuss it with colleagues in the Welsh Government.”

Chris Elmore said: “She (Ms Davies-Jones) asked the question about the coal tips and the responsibility of the Government. The Coal Industry Act 1994 says that the UK is responsible for the management of all former coal sites.

“So can I ask the secretary of state to agree to investigate these sites?”

Mr Eustice replied: “The secretary of state for Wales met the First Minister this morning where this was one of the issues discussed.”