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Plaid Cymru has welcomed news that money has been dedicated to clearing up Wales’ coal tips, but says more needs to be done, and sooner.

The party’s climate change spokesperson Delyth Jewell said the ‘Disused Mine and Quarry Tips Bill’ is an “important step forward”, but long overdue.

The bill will see £25million dedicated to ensuring the safety of coal tips across Wales, a figure which “falls short” according to South Wales East representative Ms Jewell.

She described the bill as “an important step forward”, but “long overdue”.

“At the moment these proposals fall short of providing the immediate, the comprehensive, action that our communities will be demanding”, Ms Jewell said.

“The tips that litter our skylines are the legacy of an industry that scarred our villages and towns, and nowhere are those scars more visible than in those disused tips that continue to cast a shadow over so many communities.

“The disaster of Aberfan should stand as a permanent reminder of the devastating cost that can come from the neglect and inaction that have been shown over too many decades.

“What has happened to us in our past should compel us to ensure that every coal tip in Wales is made safe, that no community is left to endure the horrors of what we’ve seen in the past again.”

The deputy leader of Plaid Cymru continued: “Coal tip safety is an issue that has gained urgency in recent weeks. The coal tip that slipped down a mountain in Cwmtillery in heavy rain provoked more than just painful memories. With the mud and sludge, there came worry and anger that our communities are left with these ticking time bombs above their heads.

“I do welcome the bill that the Welsh Government published this week. I am concerned the new coal tip safety regime won’t be brought in until 2027. Surely what’s happened in recent weeks demands more immediate action.

“I’m calling on the Welsh Government to take steps to ensure that we receive the full funding to clear up these tips. The taxpayers of Wales must not be left to bear this historic burden when it’s something that happened before this Senedd, or any Senedd, existed in Wales.”