Coal ban fears for heritage steam railways:
MP URGES EXEMPTIONS FOR LITTLE RAILWAYS
THE future of the Welsh heritage steam train industry is at risk due to a new Welsh Government coal policy, an MP has warned.
Liz Saville Roberts, the MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, has warned the new policy could risk the future viability of heritage steam railway industry in Wales.
The policy, published on March 22, makes clear the intention to end the extraction and use of coal in Wales.
The Plaid Cymru MP, who is chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Heritage Rail, has called for specific exemptions to the use of coal for the industry.
She said coal is the principal source of fuel for heritage steam railways, of which there are seven in Dwyfor Meirionnydd alone, and has warned they face having to import the right quality coal from abroad.
She said: “After Covid-19, this is the second body-blow to hit heritage railways in Wales this year.
“This policy ignores the effect of banning coal use on tourism, local employment and skills training and disproportionately affects North Wales and particularly Dwyfor Meirionnydd, with its world-class collection of historic narrow-gauge railways.
“It is very disappointing that the input from our All-Party Parliamentary Group and the Heritage Railway Association, alongside remarks from the railways themselves has been ignored.”
The MP added: “There needs to be greater scrutiny in policy formation by Welsh Government to ensure that it is properly thought-through before being implemented.
“The policy as it is makes no mention of heritage railways, or indeed other heritage transport such as traction engines, steam lorries or steamboats.
“However, it does acknowledge that, in exceptional circumstances further extraction could be permitted on a case-by-case basis.
“The crisis for heritage railways and tourism can only be averted if Welsh heritage railways are treated as exceptional, both for coal extraction and burning.”
The policy statement from Lesley Griffiths, minister for environment, energy and rural affairs, says the Welsh Government plans to “bring to a managed end the extraction and use of coal”.
She adds: “Whilst coal will continue to be used in some industrial processes and non-energy uses in the short to medium term, adding to the global supply of coal will prolong our dependency on coal and make achieving our decarbonisation targets increasingly difficult.
“For this reason, there is no clear case for expanding the supply of coal from within the UK.
“In the context of the climate emergency, and in accordance with our Low Carbon Delivery Plan, our challenge to the industries reliant on coal is to work with the Welsh Government to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and make a positive contribution to decarbonisation.”
The statement later adds: “We do see the continuing need for coal for a number of industrial processes and non-energy uses and Wales’ existing mines and coal stocks are able to supply such purposes.”
The Welsh Government was approached for comment.