Laws on coal tip inspection under review
THE Welsh Government is reviewing laws regarding the inspection and maintenance of coal tips, which it said are “not fit for purpose”.
The move comes ahead of the first anniversary of the landslide at the Llanwonno coal tip in Tylorstown, Rhondda.
During February 2020, Wales suffered unprecedented flooding from storms Ciara and Dennis, which led to the slip in the Rhondda Fach.
At a summit following the landslip at Tylorstown, a joint taskforce was established by the Welsh and UK governments to assess the immediate status of coal tips in Wales and review the existing policy and legislative framework relating to disused coal-tip management.
Its role is to look at the number of tips, inspection, maintenance, emergency preparedness, existing policy and legislation and funding.
The Coal Authority was commissioned to undertake urgent ground inspections of coal tips in Wales, identifying any urgent works and the risk status of each tip, and a public helpline has been set up.
The first round of tip inspections was completed in July 2020 and the second round of inspections of high-risk tips is due to finish this month, with 2,144 tips having been identified in Wales, mainly in the south Wales Valleys.
Latest available figures show that more than 60 are categorised as being the most at risk.
Rhondda Cynon Taf has the most atrisk tips with 30, Merthyr has 18, Caerphilly 13, Bridgend seven, Blaenau Gwent three and Neath one.
Current legislation does not mandate regular inspections of disused tips or once a tip becomes disused.
The Law Commission is undertaking a review of current legislation which will run for 15 months and is set to provide recommendations for a future bill.
The consultation should start in spring this year, with the final report due in early 2022, and there is potential for a remediation programme.
Negotiations are ongoing with the UK
Government over long-term funding, but £9m has been secured for this financial year towards coal-tip safety.
The Coal Authority has supported councils by doing some of the inspections on these high-risk tips which have been identified, and the maintenance requirements and the time-scales within which they need to be completed.
Lesley Griffiths, Welsh Government Minister for Energy, Environment and Rural Affairs, said: “In a small number of cases, the inspections have highlighted works which are immediately required to ensure the tip is being maintained at a standard necessary to enable routine monitoring. In these cases, we have urged local authorities to carry out the necessary works without delay.
“In partnership with the Coal Authority, local authorities, WLGA and Natural Resources Wales, the taskforce has made significant progress in gaining a detailed picture of the coal-tip landscape across Wales, with 2,144 coal tips identified.
“Councils must now ensure any necessary works identified from the inspections are done, working with the Coal Authority and any private owners to safeguard the structural integrity of the tips within their areas.
“A number of councils have commenced works, including at Tylorstown, where the Rhondda Fach River is being cleared to enable the main works programme to start this summer.”
Ms Griffiths added: “The complexity and timeliness of this type of work should not be underestimated.
“There are a number of factors to be considered in relation to any remediation work, not least environmental.
“A review of the current legislation concluded it is neither sufficiently robust nor fit for purpose.
“I would ask members of the public to report any concerns about coal tips or get safety advice from the 24/7 helpline on 0800 021 9230 or via tips@ coal.gov.uk.”