Plans for a 478 hectare opencast mine near Rhymney have been derailed in what was described as a victory for residents over “big-business”.
The planned Nant Llesg mine would see six million tonnes of coal mined, over at least 14 years on a site between Fochriw and Rhymney.
But councillors on Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Planning Committee rejected a recommendation by planning officers to grant developer Miller Argent permission to go ahead with the project.
Instead, at a fiery meeting on June 24, they unanimously called for a decision to be deferred in order to vote on a new recommendation that gives legal reasons to refuse the proposal.
Twyn Carno councillor Carl Cuss raised his objections to the plans saying they “contradict themselves on many levels”.
After the verdict Cllr Cuss said: “As a local member that’s a fantastic result.
“There was a lot of concern locally and I’m glad the planning committee share the views of the community.
“I’m very happy that even though the planning recommendation was for permission to be granted, the voice of the community was heard.”
Eddy Blanche, Chair of Fochriw and Pentwyn Residents’ Association, said he was “elated” by the decision.
He said: “We are pleased that the council listened to the residents and did what they should be duty bound to do, and respond to the residents and not big business.”
Terry Evans, Chair of the United Valleys Action Group (UVAG), said: “The heart of the people won.”
Anti-opencast protesters rallied outside the meeting, but were outnumbered by a counter-protest of members of the trade union Unite, who support the plans.
The workers from Ffos-y-Fran opencast, run by Miller Argent in Merthyr Tydfil, claimed the mine would protect their jobs.
Stuart Thomas, who works at the Merthyr mine, said: “We’ve all got kids and wives and mortgages,.
“It’s a good job, it’s good money, there’s local employees, what more do you want?”
The developers claim the mine would bring around 240 jobs to the area, but those opposed said the scale of the mine would see businesses move out – leading to job loses.
It was claimed by Unite that the average annual wage at Fros y Fran is £36,000, and similarly paid jobs would be available at Nant Llesg.
Miller Argent Director James Poyner said the company was the “envy of our competitors” due to its local workforce, and claimed 80% of jobs created would go to people living in the area.
He said: “Coal will remain a fundamental part of the industrial landscape and prosperity of South Wales. We want those jobs to be available for local people.”
The proposal was also supported by representatives of RWE and Tata Steel, who would be major purchasers of Nant Llesg coal.
Those opposed to the mine claimed it would bring dust, noise and light pollution, have a negative impact on residents’ health and called for the focus to be put on renewable energy.
Chris Austin, Secretary of UVAG, said to accept the proposal would be “folly”.
He said: “This proposal will commit the authority to delivering a product that the world sees as a pariah.”
A number of members of the planning committee spoke out against the plans, with none speaking in support, prior to the unanimous vote for a rethink.
Cllr John Bevan said: “If you approve this, you’re kicking the people of Rhymney in the teeth.”
Cllr Dave Rees said: “Let’s help the people of Rhymney, Pontlottyn and Fochriw have their heads held high and when they do, we don’t want them getting black dust in their teeth.”
After the decision Mr Poyner, of Miller Argent, said: “We are disappointed that Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Planning Committee chose to defer its decision on the application for the Nant Llesg project, particularly as the advice from the professional officers was to grant approval.
“Furthermore the Welsh Government Department for Natural Resources had also confirmed that the application should not be called in by Welsh ministers and should be determined by Caerphilly County Borough Council.
“Considerable effort went into getting the planning application right and this decision means the opportunity to bring much-needed employment to the region, as well as considerable additional benefits to the community, has now been delayed unnecessarily.”
But Plaid Cymru AM and Penyrheol councillor Lindsay Whittle welcomed the decision.
The South Wales East Am said: “I’m very pleased at the decision which, I know, will delight residents of the upper Rhymney Valley.
“Whilst we want to see jobs coming to the area it cannot be at any cost. Wales paid the price of coal in the past and should not have to do so in the future.
“There were strong environmental issues to refuse this application as well as dust and noise. I was told by one business in the area that they would move out if this opencast scheme went ahead.”
Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, who addressed councillors, said: “This proposed opencast coal mine is dirty, destructive and deeply unpopular. We’re thoroughly delighted that councillors have unanimously called for it to be rejected.
“Time after time, elected members have stood up for communities against big fossil fuel industries. We saw it in the National Assembly when they voted for a moratorium on opencast coal in April. And we’ve seen it again here with Caerphilly councillors voting against a massive opencast mine on the doorstep of communities in the upper Rhymney Valley.
“Public opinion is firmly against new opencast mines, and we call on the Welsh Government to implement a moratorium on opencast in Wales immediately”.
A report recommending refusing planning permission will be considered by councillors on August 4.
This is a decision of common sense over greed – the ‘supporters’ were bussed in by their employers in order to intimidate. The comment from one of their employees – regarding well paid jobs ……..what more could we want? Well not to be exposed to noise, dust and everything else this open cast would bring for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 20 plus years ……. residents don’t get paid for it and they can’t go home at the end of a shift, they have no choice once its up and running. Caerphilly councillors are to be commended for sticking to their aims for a cleaner greener Caerphilly for all their residents.
The planning application clearly states that it’s not 24 hours a day 7 dats a week. It’s this kind of scare moungering that fuels the fire. What high tech green fluffy sugar coated jobs would you like?
It would be 24/7 for the residents living there – as I said …… perhaps you didn’t read that bit. When the ‘local’ workers go home they don’t shut a door on it, they would not necessarily be living within 500m of the site would they and there are 5000 residents who do, In Rhymney, in Pontlottyn, in Fochriw.
And in answer to your question the jobs that are there now are fine, more investment in the Industrial Estates, jobs for men and women that don’t pollute the air everyone else breathes that would be good.
It’s not scaremongering its a fact, opencast mining creates a bloody big hole in the ground for as long as its mined and the residents live with it every day.
Lynn, I don’t condone or condemn this opencast mine. But those jobs your would prefer for the men and women of this area, no ones offering them.
Being sited next to an opencast won’t encourage new employers in either and discourage existing ones from expanding. And only a very small number of people will benefit from this – local means in a 10 to 15 mile radius from the site – that takes in an awful lot of deprived communities and some of the most deprived are sitting right next to it. Its not about jobs
is it?
For me and the people living here its about having to LIVE with it, no benefits will be felt here by the majority of residents, there’ll be no boost to the local economy. We are part of the Heads of the Valleys Regeneration area so is this all that’s on offer ?
Fair enough. I already understood the issues with having to live with it and can’t counter that argument. How do you know there will be no jobs for the boys? What other companies are looking to invest, expand? I’m just curious as these questions have to be considered. Is it this or nothing?
So let’s get this right. People slag off Margaret Thatcher for closing the mines leading to the destruction of valley’s communities. There is a lack of jobs and the only investment in the area is European money because 15 years of Labouf rule brought no investment into the area.
A private company is looking to invest in the area and employ people on a good salary – none of this zero hours stuff. They will invest heavily to reclaim lost land so there is a legacy.
Local short sighted councillors say no thanks but then about how ‘deprived’ the area is. It’s laughable.
The proud Welsh want to keep up their long standing tradition of wallowing in the past and lamenting the tragic sad closure of the mines ( by evil Maggie ) which destroyed families and communities wiping out an industry that made Wales a prosperous and great country, they’ll put up a plaque or erect a monument and have a little get together on each anniversary of the pit closures – but the NIMBY’s don’t want them to return and create jobs. Perhaps they could put up a few hundred 200 foot high wind turbines, though I dare say the usual campaigners would object to those as they would be a blot on the landscape and spoil the view.
I have not examined the plans for this open cast and do not have strong views either way, we certainly could do with jobs and we also need to develop the coal industry as part of a balanced energy policy, something that our government is stranfely reluctant to do.
That said there is a huge difference between deep mining coal and open cast for people who live nearby. A modern deep mine is mostly hidden underground and looks similar to a factory. When I was still working in the coal industry I visited the Selby complex of mines in Yorkshire. Until I went underground there was virtually nothing to see, yet this complex mined 12 Million tonnes in a year at peak production. Compare this with an estimate of 6 Million tonnes during the lifetime of the Nant Llesg site.
You are quite right, Pete, that we Welsh should not ‘wallow in the past’ which is something we are prone to do. We need to look at every mining project in terms of cost and benefit. It seems that the planned method of extraction in this case has been found wanting in terms of benefit by the local people and their representatives.
Err Paul not Pete. I never said a thing this time.
My apology, it is so easy to get used to the same commentators and mix them up! I’m sure that you have a view though, let’s have a post from you!
Yeah no worries. I don’t have a view on this one actually, or at least not a decisive one. Jobs, investment etc Vs a great big dirty hole in the ground and dust everywhere. It wouldn’t effect me down here in Caerphilly town either positively or negatively so I would leave that to the local residents, it’s their business.
I did say in another post that there will likely be jobs for locals available from such an investment which isn’t coming from anywhere else.
It is the easiest thing to be critical of NIMBY`s, it is more difficult to imagine someone elses mindset when it comes to major disruption to their lives and possible health and environmental issues when they turn into NIMBY`s as a result.
Maggie Thatcher didn`t just close pits, she systematically attacked and decimated entire communities by the dishonest and misinformation methods she used to do so. So I see no contradiction between Welsh Peoples anger during and after the miners strike, the loss of jobs in a destroyed industry, and the opposition to this project on environmental and health grounds, I would also say that there is a major issue with the effect on the residents entitlement to live peacefuly in their own homes by the persuit of profit,and, without this project preventing them doing do.
The Council must be applauded for finding a bit of backbone in the face of big business intent on disrupting the lives of their residents, the people who voted them into office, and, officers of the council, who one wonders sometimes who they work for. It used to be the case that officers `Recommended` and Councillors made `Decisions`. and that is what has happened in this case, Miller Argent better get their cheque book out to instruct lawyers if they dont accept this decision, and Council Solicitors had better blow away the cobwebs and get their law books out. But that`s democracy!!!! live with it.