Call on UK Gov to use Budget to help as hundreds of coal tips in Wales shown to be at higher risk
The First Minister has called on the UK Government to use tomorrow’s Budget to help fix a problem created before devolution, as data shows that over 300 coal tips in Wales are at higher risk.
For the first time ever, the Welsh Government has been able to provide a breakdown of the 2,456 identified tips in Wales split into risk categories and by local authority.
The data shows that Neath Port Talbot has the greatest number of sites at 607 but that Rhondda Cynon Taf has the most sites classified as being at higher risk at 75.
Mark Drakeford said that “living in the shadow of a coal tip” was very concerning for communities.
“These sites pre-date devolution,” he said. “Our funding settlement does not recognise the substantial, long-term costs of remediating and repairing these sites.
“Tomorrow’s Spending Review is an opportunity for the UK Government to use its financial powers to help communities who’ve given so much to Wales and the United Kingdom during the coal-mining years.
“A package of investment to remediate these sites will show how our two governments can work together for the communities we serve.”
However, he added that he wanted to reassure residents that a lot of work was being done to ensure the coal tips are safe.
“An inspection and maintenance regime is in place, with winter inspections currently underway on the higher risk tips,” he said.
“We’re also piloting technology trials to better understand any ground movement at higher risk sites.
“But we know the risks will increase with climate change and we know the importance of reaching a long-term solution.”
‘Shadow’
The new data follows a written statement from Climate Change Minister Julie James earlier this month where she confirmed Welsh Government had collected the data and shared with local authorities and Local Resilience Forums to assist with emergency preparedness.
Higher risk sites fall under categories C and D which recognise there is a potential to cause risk to safety, not that there is an imminent or immediate threat – it means that more frequent inspections are scheduled.
The publication of the data comes ahead of this afternoon’s Coal Tip Safety Summit, which is meeting for the fourth time. The summit will discuss the progress of the Coal Tip Safety Task Force, including data mapping and ongoing maintenance and inspection work.
Funding for the long-term reclamation of coal tips will also be discussed at the summit. Repurposing, reclamation and remediation of disused coal tips to deal with the legacy of the pre-devolution mining industry is estimated to cost at least £500m to £600m over the next decade and a half.
The Welsh Government has stressed the need for this investment to be frontloaded in the coming years, as rainfall intensifies and temperatures increase because of the changing climate.
Councillor Andrew Morgan (Rhondda Cynon Taf), the leader of the Welsh Local Government Association, said that work was being undertaken regularly to monitor and inspect coal tips for any movement or activity.
“However, this data shows that substantial long-term investment is needed if we are to make sure that necessary repair work is carried out and to ensure the safety of these sites across Wales,” he said.
“I am pleased that both the UK Government and Welsh Government are taking the issue seriously and have set up the Coal Tip Safety Task Force to jointly map out the work needed.
“However, despite a cross-party joint letter endorsed by all of the 22 council leaders in Wales requesting UK Government funding, it is disappointing that the UK Government – despite some initial financial support – has so far refused to commit to an ongoing programme of funding which is going to be needed to deal with this legacy issue which pre-dates devolution.
“The Spending Review gives a chance for the UK Government to give some much-needed reassurance to communities that are still living in the shadow of their industrial legacy.
“By working together with partners including UK Government, Welsh Government and local government, and with long term investment, we can help to make sure that we protect these sites against future climate change risks, and to prevent repeating past disasters.”
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It won’t happen, the Tory government will say it is the responsibility of the Welsh government. This will force the Welsh government to do either one of two things: a). Divert funds from elsewhere to fix the problem. This will inevitably lead to budget cuts elsewhere and the Tories will then blame the Welsh government for cutting other budgets. or b). Not fix the problem due to lack of funding. The Tories will then blame the Welsh government for not fixing the problem. Either way the Westminster government won’t provide the funds for this as it too big an opportunity… Read more »
The argument from every UK government has always been that profits from Welsh coal benefited Wales as part of the UK. Wales did not get exclusive benefit from the coal so any clearing up costs should be paid mainly by the UK government.
I would also favour the UK government directly paying for the clear up, rather than giving an amount into the Welsh budget. I wouldn’t trust the Senedd not to use the money for other things.
Heaven forfend them feeding disabled children, eh?
Do remember that the Senedd had to step in and reimburse the people of Aberfan after Westminster charged them to make their tips safe after the disaster. We cannot trust Tories not to pollute our rivers so why trust them on other environmental issues?
Isn’t that exactly what the UK government would say? ‘We gave the Senedd enough to clear up all the tips and they spent it according to their own priorities. Not our fault the tips are still dangerous…’ And then the next disaster happens. Some things are like brakes, they have to be fixed before something major goes wrong.
That’s normally the way they treat Wales take all the money that they make in Wales and walk away
After all the deaths that happened in Abervan and the Labour government in Westminster took the money to make the tip’s safe out of the public disaster funds nothing would surprise me that they would make Wales pay to make the tip’s safe, take the profits and run that’s how they treat the people of Wales we must Go for home rule WAKE Up Wales