Written question WQ96267
- Asked by
- Delyth JewellPlaid
- To be answered by
- Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 10 days
Question
What new monitors and methods have been put in place since 2020 to ensure coal tip safety across Wales?
Answer
Answered by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
The Welsh Government’s disused tip inspection and maintenance regime is the primary monitoring system which was established after the Tylorstown landslide in February 2020. We have found that regular, repeated, expert on-site assessment of tips and related safety infrastructure is the most effective way to monitor the safety of coal tips. However, Welsh Government is future-proofing the regime through a series of technology trials on more than 70 Category C and D disused tips. This includes piloting the use of sensors to detect potential tip movement and changes in soil moisture content.
In using and developing these technologies, a core objective for Welsh Government is to ensure that the various monitoring systems and methods work together to provide effective, cohesive and robust approaches to coal tip safety in Wales.