Controversial plans to build an opencast mine at the top of the Rhymney Valley have finally been rejected by the Planning Inspectorate – almost three years after developers lodged their appeal.
In August 2015, Caerphilly County Borough Council rejected an application for the Nant Llesg mine by developer Miller Argent in the face of strong local opposition.
The company, which was sold in January 2016 to Gwent Investments and renamed Merthyr Holdings, had been asked for further information by the Planning Inspectorate but had failed to submit anything.
In a letter sent to the company on Tuesday, September 18, the Planning Inspectorate said: “You were required to provide the further information requested, in our letter of March 4, 2016, or a realistic timetable for the submission of your further information, by September 6, 2018.
“To date we have not received this information from you. Regulation 3 of the 1999 EIA Regulations places a prohibition on granting planning permission unless the decision maker has taken into account the environmental information, without a complete Environmental Statement (ES). As such, the only option open to the decision maker would be to dismiss this appeal.
“Accordingly, as a complete ES has not been submitted, nor a realistic timetable for the submission of your further information by the deadline, the appeal will now be closed and no further action will be taken with it.”
The mine, which was earmarked for land between Fochriw and Rhymney, would have seen six million tonnes of coal mined over at least 14 years on a 478 hectare site, offering up to 239 jobs.
Campaigners who battled against the proposals are overjoyed at the appeal’s rejection.
Eddy Blanche, vice-chairman of the United Valleys Action Group said: “Thanks to all who supported us. And to all those fighting all over the country this win is for you. May it give you hope and inspiration to keep on fighting. It shows we can win. Your voice will make a difference.”
Haf Elgar, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru called it a “historic victory” for people power.
She said: “This is a historic victory for everyone who worked so tirelessly to save Nant Llesg from an opencast coal mine, and the culmination of years of campaigning by the local community.
“We can’t go on digging up more and more coal – the local impacts are devastating and the global effects are terrifying. Fossil fuels must be left in the ground if we’re to avoid catastrophic climate change.
“Old King Coal has had his day in Wales – and this marks the end of new opencast coal mines.
“We must embrace a positive future of renewable energy and sustainable development to build a cleaner, safer future for us all.”
Speaking on behalf of Merthyr Friends of the Earth, Alyson Austin congratulated everyone involved in the campaign and said: “The people of the upper Rhymney valley have had the Nant Llesg appeal hanging over them like the Sword of Damocles for nearly three years.
“From personal experience I know what it’s like living next to an opencast coal mine. The dust from the mine coats every flat surface and the air quality can be really bad.
“Words can’t express how pleased and relieved we are that communities in Rhymney, Pontlottyn and Fochriw have been spared this horrendous experience – they deserve this outcome.”
Merthy Holdings, which through subsidiary Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd, operates the neighbouring Ffos-y-fran opencast mine.
In May last year it vowed to press ahead with its appeal, but when contacted by Caerphilly Observer the company declined to comment on its appeal being thrown out.
Cllr Eluned Stenner, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment and Public Protection said: “We are keen to pursue cleaner, greener ways of delivering renewable energy and we are pleased that the green hillsides in the area will not be blighted by further opencast development thanks to this decision.”