Almost 9,000 objections are believed to have been submitted to the Welsh Government’s Planning Inspectorate over an appeal to build an opencast mine at the top of the Rhymney Valley.
The objections relate to developer Miller Argent’s plan to create an opencast mine between Rhymney and Fochriw on a 478 hectare site.
Caerphilly County Borough Council rejected the plans last year, but Miller Argent has submitted an appeal to the Welsh Government’s Planning Inspectorate.
The company has also submitted an application to fence off public rights of way on Gelligaer common as part of the development.
The application for the fence is separate from the planning application appeal for the mine.
However, the Planning Inspectorate has stated that both applications will be heard together this summer.
It is understood that around 7,500 objections were made via Friends of the Earth’s website and a further 1,500 written objections were submitted.
Eddy Blanche, Vice Chairman of the United Valleys Action Group, said: “We have been once again overwhelmed by the level of objection that people feel.
“We feel that the sheer number of objections we have received in recent weeks makes a statement of the feeling of people to this proposal both locally and nationally.
“The common at Nant Llesg is a national asset and needs to be protected.”
If given the go-ahead, the mine would see six million tonnes of coal extracted over at least a 14-year period on a 478 hectare site, offering up to 239 jobs.