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The company behind plans to make Bedwas’ coal tips safer wants to hear the public’s views before lodging a planning application.

ERI Reclamation has already outlined a five-to-ten-year draft plan, which would involve an initial 60 lorries a day visit the site for up to ten weeks via an existing forest track near Cwmfelinfach.

After this preliminary work, a five-year ‘operation’ period will commence, which will involve 18 to 20 lorries a day travelling back and forth to the site, removing around 500,000 tonnes worth of coal and spoil from the tips.

The project will be paid for by the coal that ERI extracts from the tips, which will be washed on site and transported away.

As part of the plan, a road estimated to be between 500 to 600 metres will also be built, joining the forest track to the main road near the A467 roundabout.

The Welsh Government has stressed the tips aren’t necessarily ‘unsafe’; but due to the height and make-up of them, there is a risk that run-off water could cause an incident below.

To make the tips safer, as well as levelling the mounds, ERI will be digging up soil from deep within them and relaying it on top, so vegetation can grow and absorb water.

ERI has said that, assuming no serious amendments are needed during the six-week consultation period, it expects work to begin in September 2024.

Keen to hear the public’s views and answer any questions, ERI has now announced three exhibition dates to discuss the draft proposals.

Exhibition dates:

• Bedwas Workmen’s Hall, Monday February 19, 12pm to 8pm.
• Bedwas Workmen’s Hall, Tuesday February 20, 12pm to 8pm.
• Haven on the Hill, Cwmfelinfach, Wednesday February 21, 12pm to 8pm.

Steve Williams, director for ERI, said: “The former colliery spoil tips above Bedwas have been identified as amongst the highest risk of colliery tip problems in the county borough.

“As remediation specialists and having successfully transformed a group of coal tips at Six Bells near Aberbeeg to diverse grassland, we have brought forward proposals to remediate and rewild the former Bedwas Colliery, restoring it to a safe and attractive area of rich biodiversity and wildlife for the community to enjoy.”

Mr Williams continued: “Our proposals would remove the risk of tip fires, land slippage and water contamination, while protecting the limited existing ecology, but reintroducing native grasses and trees.

“The remediation of the tips would create jobs for local people and would be undertaken at no cost to the taxpayer.”

He added: “We are very keen to hear the public’s views on our draft proposals and have organised these public drop-in sessions in Bedwas and Cwmfelinfach so local residents can see what we’ve delivered elsewhere, ask questions and tell us what they think of our proposals.”