Aug 1 2005
Martin Shipton, Western Mail
A CONTROVERSIAL opencast mine proposal that faces a legal challenge was backed by a UK Government Minister who had opposed a similar scheme on his own patch.Documents released to Plaid Cymru under the Freedom of Information Act show that former Energy Minister Mike O'Brien wrote a letter to First Minister Rhodri Morgan in support of a 998-acre opencast mine at Ffos-y-fran, near Merthyr Tydfil.Yet when an opencast mine was proposed in his own North Warwickshire constituency, Mr O'Brien objected vehemently.The Ffos-y-fran scheme was approved by a National Assembly committee in February, despite objections that it will be just 37m from the nearest homes.Local resident Elizabeth Condron has since been granted legal aid to challenge the decision in the High Court.In a letter written to the First Minister last December, Mr O'Brien, who is now the Solicitor General, said, "I am sure you are fully aware of the potential importance of this site to security of energy supplies in South Wales", claiming that the viability of Aberthaw power station could be at risk if the scheme did not go ahead.Mr O'Brien added that he was "pleased" that another opencast mine project was going ahead in Neath Port Talbot.In response, the Assembly's Environment Minister Carwyn Jones wrote, "I can assure you that the points you make will be considered by the committee when it meets".Plaid Cymru has unearthed public statements made by Mr O'Brien in the early 1990s, when an application was made to develop an opencast mine in the area he represents.In January 1994, Mr O'Brien said in the House of Commons, "May I remind the Minister that 20,000 homes in my constituency are still threatened by the prospect of opencast? Many of the people who live there are former miners and face not only the loss of their jobs but the potential destruction of their environment."Is not it time that he gave local people a veto and a right to say no to opencast despoiling their environment?"Plaid Cymru AM Jocelyn Davies said, "It is obvious that Mike O'Brien wanted to see opencast mining in South Wales and used his position to make his opinion felt to Cabinet Ministers at the Assembly. Mike O'Brien campaigned against opencast mining in his own constituency in North Warwickshire, but doesn't mind South Wales being exploited."It is staggering that a UK Minister can have such a 'not in my back yard' approach to difficult decisions within his own portfolio. What is the difference between people in Merthyr and those in North Warwickshire?"Despite a manifesto pledge by Labour in Wales to introduce a buffer zone policy, we have not seen any commitment from the Labour Assembly Government to do so."It seems that Labour in Wales are perfectly happy to be dictated to by the Labour Government in Westminster, even if it means letting the people of Wales down."An Assembly Government spokesman said, "A letter from Mike O'Brien MP on the subject of Ffos-y-fran, Merthyr Tydfil has been released under Freedom of Information Act."The response to this letter was given by the Environment, Planning and Countryside Minister, Carwyn Jones."There is a current legal process associated with this issue and it would be inappropriate for the Welsh Assembly Government to comment any further."A spokesperson for the Department of Trade and Industry said energy policy is not entirely devolved and the Minister was writing about areas that were his responsibility.
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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