, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
—is better than nothing, isn't it?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Yes, meaning, basically, that some is better than—. Any small amount of restoration—
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Satisfies the criteria.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
And when will you know that?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
The interim restoration programme of works. It's actually referenced in the site operator's letter to the committee and was supposed to be commencing in May.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Thank you. I know you've touched on the interim restoration programme of works—I'm trying to find answers—referenced in the site operator's letter to the committee and due to commence in May, including the costs of undertaking the work. How is that work going…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
It 'might be yearly', did you say?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
By who?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Thank you. Are you independently surveying the quality of the water?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Thank you. That was a brilliant explanation, honestly.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Thanks. Are you concerned, or are you greatly concerned, that the site operator will abandon the site or declare insolvency? You mentioned figures of around £104,000 in terms of value. So, what measures have you put in place yourselves, as a local authority…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Oh, good. Quite often, frequently, or—?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Are there any progressive moves is what I'm trying to establish. Some meetings can take place, but are there any positive actions towards the restoration of the site? How is that moving forward?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
And are these minutes published?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
And are there any decisions coming from those meetings?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
And how often does it meet?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
In its letter to the Welsh Government in October 2023 expressing concerns at MTCBCs preparedness for site closure, the Coal Authority highlighted the urgent need for an incident response team to manage the site’s closure, public safety management and safe…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Have you yourself engaged with the UK Government?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
I'm a politician. [Laughter.]
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Thank you. Prior to answering this, quite often this is discussed on the floor of the Senedd in the Chamber, and the UK Government gets blamed, and the UK Government say that this is a Welsh Government responsibility and we've had 26 years of devolution. Do…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Go on, then.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Why?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Yes. What is your—? Now, let's see what figure you all come up with. What is your current estimation of the cost to remediate the site?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Okay. And then my final question is—
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Oh right, okay.
