Many residents on both sides of the borders of Bridgend and Neath/Port Talbot are concerned with the health impacts that further extension of the opencast will have.We are at the moment experiencing the hottest weather of the year. The water measures at the opencast site are totally inadequate to prevent dust .Opencast coal dust is not ordinary nuisance dust, but dust that is assigned specific maximum exposure limits due to the nature of its toxicity. There can be any combination of a number of chemicals at any given time where the actual toxicology is determined by topography, dispersal and dilution and climatic conditions. A single tyre on one large item of heavy plant generates 8 pounds of dust travelling at 10mph. Thus 6 tyres on one articulated dump truck has the potential to raise 48 pounds of dust, rising to 300 pounds of dust at 20mph. The potential with a whole fleet of heavy plant is quite unimaginable. Heavy plant labours in low gear under heavy load stress thus emitting substantial amounts of unburned hydrocarbons. These unburned hydrocarbons originate from "off road" diesel that usually contains a higher sulphur and nickel content than on road diesel.There is a wealth of evidence that can directly link dust particles and diesel emissions to cancers, asthma and heart disease, as well as other illnesses.Air pollution can worsen the condition of those with heart or lung disease.Air pollution can aggravate and sometimes cause asthma.In the longer term, air pollution probably has additional effects on individuals, including some reduction in average life expectancy.As for air pollution generally, the evidence that particulates cause people to suffer adverse health effects is similarly incontrovertible. Mortality due to particulates is a major health issue, but not currently fully understood.A recent report from Brussels proves, without a shadow of doubt, that particles, particularly PM2.5’s CAUSE cancer.The EU is beginning to recognise these concerns (over particulates and health issues ) and in the future it is likely that we will see stricter and stricter regulations governing emissions. The fate of the Sint-Niklaas incinerator in Belgium has had a huge impact - although this plant met EU safety requirements, it had to be closed down in 2002 after it was associated with a 480% increase in cancer and a shortening of life-span averaging 12 years.’www.carolinelucasmep.org.ukThe evidence from America and Europe is absolutely unanimous and unambiguous: the particulate matter and pollutants generated by opencast coal mining operations have severe adverse health impacts on any population within a short distance from the site.The proposed site at ‘Margam/Parc Slip’ is so close to large concentrations of habitation, including many sensitive sites such as local infant, primary and comprehensive schools, that there is no doubt at all that the adverse health considerations will certainly apply in this case.There is no apparent threshold for the health effects due to exposure to PM. Therefore no safe level may be defined for which there are no effects.On a final note, the Human Rights Act 1998 now places the impact of the effects of a planning decision into consideration. Third party objections to a planning application must now be taken into account by Planning Authorities, because of the right of the individual to the enjoyment of their property, and to the human rights consequences of not acting against severe environmental damage.It is our belief that an approval of this application would be open to challenge under the Human Rights Act 1998 “ Right to Life.”
For more information contact G.M.Ball (Secretary of PACT (01656 742405) )
Sunday 6 January 2008
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OUR STORY
We’ve had opencast mining in our community for almost 60 years. The most recent work started six years ago. In spring 2005, an application to extend the site by 51 hectares to the west was put forward by the mining company, Celtic Energy Ltd. This would have been through parts of ancient woodland and could have had an effect on biodiversity.The existing mine looks absolutely horrific. It’s a huge, black hole which looks like a moonscape. The mine is in the valley so you can see it from all directions - from the motorway to the sand dunes.It is also really close to the community. This means the noise and dust created can have a big impact, which makes our area a unique case.Strong public feeling
When Celtic Energy submitted the application there was a meeting in Bridgend. The public were allowed to attend but not to comment. That’s where I met other residents who were against the plan and together we set up PACT – Protecting and Conserving Together.The strength of public feeling against the mine is incredible. Now hundreds of people are involved, but it’s still down to a few of us to do all the organising. Unhealthy situationPACT approached the Cardiff Institute of Society of Health and Ethics to carry out a health impact assessment of the proposed extension on people living in the area. Their research came to the conclusion that the negative aspects of expansion would outweigh the positive. The report said; “The loss of amenity, visual impact, nuisance dust, noise and pollution are strong arguments against further open casting close to this community.”But health is not an issue that has to be taken into account in planning at the moment. This needs to change because, the way things are, councils can just pick and choose what they want to take out of something like a health impact assessment.
I don’t think there is a balance between industry and the needs of the people. Legislation on dust and noise is all geared up to help the industry. This means it doesn’t matter how much residents complain, because whenever noise or dust levels are measured they seem to be deemed OK. That’s why we’re calling for tighter legislation.Last month Celtic Energy withdrew their expansion plans. But we weren’t celebrating because that’s not the end of it. They have also put in an application for a time extension of another year for the existing site. No time extension has ever been refused.
When Celtic Energy submitted the application there was a meeting in Bridgend. The public were allowed to attend but not to comment. That’s where I met other residents who were against the plan and together we set up PACT – Protecting and Conserving Together.The strength of public feeling against the mine is incredible. Now hundreds of people are involved, but it’s still down to a few of us to do all the organising. Unhealthy situationPACT approached the Cardiff Institute of Society of Health and Ethics to carry out a health impact assessment of the proposed extension on people living in the area. Their research came to the conclusion that the negative aspects of expansion would outweigh the positive. The report said; “The loss of amenity, visual impact, nuisance dust, noise and pollution are strong arguments against further open casting close to this community.”But health is not an issue that has to be taken into account in planning at the moment. This needs to change because, the way things are, councils can just pick and choose what they want to take out of something like a health impact assessment.
I don’t think there is a balance between industry and the needs of the people. Legislation on dust and noise is all geared up to help the industry. This means it doesn’t matter how much residents complain, because whenever noise or dust levels are measured they seem to be deemed OK. That’s why we’re calling for tighter legislation.Last month Celtic Energy withdrew their expansion plans. But we weren’t celebrating because that’s not the end of it. They have also put in an application for a time extension of another year for the existing site. No time extension has ever been refused.
About Me
- KENFIGPACT
- The ‘Protecting and Conserving Together’ group (PACT) exists for the benefit and protection of the environment within the local area and is particularly concerned with preventing the expansion of opencast mining. PACT draws its membership mainly from the local communities representing truly local knowledge and concerns that are fundamental to the planning process. The group has many members and many more supporters representing a broad cross-section of society both locally and elsewhere. Its membership and supporters include MPs, AMs, clergy, environmentalists, professionals, economists, wildlife experts and scientists. The opencast impacts upon these three County Boroughs: Cefn Cribwr and Aberbaiden (Ogmore Constituency) Kenfig Hill and Pyle (Bridgend Constituency) Pen-Y-Bryn, Bryndu and Margam ( Margam, Neath/Port Talbot Constituency)
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