BACK TO TOP

Westminster: our evidence on Wales' coal legacy

Westminster’s Welsh Affairs Committee

Coal Action Network was invited to attend Westminster where we gave evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee in their inquiry about the environmental and economic legacy of Wales’ industrial past, alongside Friends of the Earth Cymru.

This inquiry was opened in December 2024 to examine the environmental legacy and economic impact of Wales’ historical heavy industries. You can find our written evidence here.

Summary of our submission

In our submission, we focused on the consequences today of old coal mines. Whilst we recognise the wealth it generated, much of that was kept by the Directors of mining companies whilst abandoning their restoration responsibilities to host communities. Our 2022 report ‘Coal mine restoration in South Wales’ documents this pattern in Wales’ recent past. We also highlighted the threat of new coal mining under the guise of remediation, as proposed in Bedwas, South Wales.

Our oral evidence

  1. We explained that the cycle of mining companies letting down their host communities is not just a legacy issue, but is also a live issue. We commented on how perverse it would be to rely on profit-driven mining companies to fix the problems caused by those same profit-driven mining companies.
  2. We highlighted that not all coal tips should be flattened – with unique and rare ecologies growing up around some of the older coal tips. Many coal tips are also stable and safe now.
  3. We called for the UK Government’s coal ban to include ‘remining’ coal tips – as this shares many of the same characteristics as conventional coal mining.
  4. We also recommended that the UK Government deliver more dedicated funding on an ongoing basis to the Welsh Government to monitor and remediate historic coal mining sites and tips.
Published 07.04.2025

Share now:

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Never miss an update! Sign up to our Newsletter

OTHER STORIES

Caerphilly candidates views on Bedwas coal tips
October 9th 2025

Within the borders of the Senedd Caerphilly constituency is the proposed Bedwas coal tips re-mining project. In the lead up to the Senedd by-election, Coal Action Network has carried out a survey of the by-election candidates asking for their views about the re-mining of the Bedwas and other…

Glan Lash opencast “off-set” exposed
September 16th 2025

In 2019, Bryn Bach Coal Ltd applied to expand its Glan Lash opencast coal mine and extend the amount of time it would continue mining coal for. The proposal would see the coal mine swallowing a nearby ancient woodland, hedgerows, and grassland. The proposal was rejected by Carmarthenshire County Council in 2023…

New advice shows Government how coal prohibition can prevent all new coal prospecting
August 20th 2025

In November 2024, the UK Government announced its commitment to legislating a ban of new coal mining licences. This was a commitment that Coal Action Network had secured a manifesto commitment from the Government for, along with four other major parties…

Barristers tackle tip law and licensing
August 18th 2025

Coal Action Network has obtained new legal advice from expert Barristers Estelle Dehon (KC) and Rowan Clapp of Cornerstone Chambers, London. Examining relevant…

Cross-party support at Senedd drop-in session to act on coal legacy
July 9th 2025

On July 1st, 2025, CAN organised drop-in session at the Senedd, spotlighting the urgent need for action on Wales’ coal legacy issues. The event saw strong cross-party engagement, with Members of the Senedd (MSs)…

Countering fake news in the Senedd
July 3rd 2025

We’re actively setting the record straight when fake news about coal is spread through public figures, social media, or the press. The rise of populist politics and politicians tend to drive statements that are don’t entirely match the evidence, but may win them some votes…

360 exploration of Ffos-y-fran opencast coal mine
July 2nd 2025

Explore the landscape via the images below, drag around the viewpoints and go full-screen for the immersive experience. This is what the 58,000 residents of Merthyr Tydfil face every day…and with a new plan by mining company, Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd, to evade its responsibility to restore…

Tip closest to residents to remain untouched
May 8th 2025

This information seeks to clarify which tips are included in ERI Ltd’s proposal to mine and then flatten certain coal tips in Caerphilly. The tips selected appear to be on the basis of which would be most profitable to mine of the ‘waste coal’ they contain…

The Bill that risks reigniting coal mining in Wales
May 6th 2025

The Welsh Government’s Deputy First Minister, in his response to the CCEIC’s Stage 1 Report, admits the “Bill does not prevent the extraction or burning of coal” but adds “I cannot envisage a scenario in which the extraction and burning of coal will arise as a result of the Bill”…

CONNECT WITH US

Share now:

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x