A community project to save a historic colliery site has been boosted by a £250,000 grant from the Welsh Government.
Edwina Hart, Minister for Economy Science and Transport, has awarded the grant for land reclamation works at the site of the former Navigation Colliery in Crumlin.
The colliery was built between 1907 and 1911 at a time when South Wales was the world’s largest coal exporter.
It still has 11 separately listed buildings as well as other listed surrounding structures – the winding houses, fan house, chimney and power-house are all listed Grade II*.
The South Wales Building Preservation Trust took over ownership of the site in 2011 and is working with the council and other organisations, including the Prince’s Regeneration Trust, to safeguard the future of the buildings.
Local groups Glofa Navigation Trust and The Friends of the Navigation have around 15 dedicated community volunteers, who are working hard to maintain the site to prevent further deterioration.
Vera Jenkins, Community Champion for Glofa Navigation Trust, said people involved with the project were “over the moon” at the grant.
She said: “The money will be used for remedial work to help clean the site up.
“Our intention is to save the buildings and bring the site back into community use.”
Jocelyn Davies, AM for South Wales East, welcomed the decision after she brokered a meeting between the Minister and the organisations leading the project.
The Plaid AM said: “Navigation Colliery is a significant part of the heritage of the South Wales Valleys coalfield. Securing this grant from the Welsh Government is an important step in restoring this historic site so that it can be adapted for new uses to benefit the local community.
“Navigation Colliery is not only our past, it is also our future.”
The grant will be used by the Prince’s Regeneration Trust, with support from the Glofa Navigation Trust and friends group, to secure the site by tackling pollution rising from the former mineshaft and preventing a culvert beneath the main access road collapsing.
Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of the Prince’s Regeneration Trust, said: “We’re thrilled that the Welsh Government has made this significant financial commitment to the Navigation Colliery which will make vital remediation work possible – without which there would be no hope of the site ever being reoccupied.”
• A rural market is taking place at the colliery site on Saturday October 25 between 10am and 2pm. All volunteers are welcome and for more information call 01495 243729.