UK's Largest Opencast Mine Restoration Plan to be Decided by Welsh Government

The Welsh government will decide on a plan to restore the UK's largest opencast mine site.

Merthyr South Wales Ltd has a new, cheaper plan to restore the site, but it will leave three coal tips in place.

The company says it does not have enough money to follow the original, more extensive restoration plan.

The government has taken over the decision from the local council.

The Welsh government will not comment on this now.

Merthyr South Wales Ltd has been asked for a comment.

The company's new plan will reduce the height of one coal tip and leave two others as they are.

People who live near the mine and have campaigned against it are happy with the government's decision.

Alyson Austin said, 'We are really, really pleased.'

The Austins think the local council could not handle this complex plan.

Chris Austin thinks the government will give a more objective view.

Chris said, 'This plan is not like building an extension, it's much bigger and important nationally.'

He also said the local council was too close to the issue and did not have enough resources.

The mine was given permission in 2005 as a 'land reclamation scheme'.

Some of the money from selling coal was meant to clean up the site and make it green again.

The tips have 37 million cubic meters of material from when the mine was working.

The original plan was to use the tips to fill the main mining hole, which is 175 meters deep.

It would cost between £50m and £175m to remove the tips and fill the hole.

Daniel Therkelsen of Coal Action Network accused the company of trying to make more money.

The new plan would restore the site for just £15m.

This is much less than the £75m to £120m needed for full restoration.

Daniel said, 'What we're talking about is a very dangerous place.'

The company wants to put up fences to stop people going near the cliff or swimming in the hole.

But this has not worked in other similar places.

We have to trust the Welsh government to see this plan for what it is.

A report warned of a 'significant risk of slope instability' from the mine.

Campaigners think it's shocking to leave the tips in place.

The company said comparing their tips to old coal tips is incorrect.

The company has £91.2m for restoration, but it might use a £15m backup fund.

The mine's consultants are making detailed cost plans now.

The Welsh Conservatives think the government acted too late and is doing this because of the election.

They want full, safe restoration with the company paying, not taxpayers.

Plaid Cymru wants the site restored to keep communities safe and to enforce stronger measures.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats think the government is right to step in and oversee the restoration.

The Welsh government has explained its decision to the council in a letter.

The government will not comment further now.

Reform UK and the Green Party have been asked for their comments.

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