New applications for opencast coal mining developments in Wales appear unlikely to be successful under proposed changes to planning policy according to a new report by the National Assembly’s Petitions Committee.
The Committee has published its findings in relation to two petitions concerning Welsh Government policy and planning restrictions around opencast mining.
The Committee concluded the government doesn’t anticipate and wouldn’t welcome any new applications for opencast coal extraction in Wales, and that proposed changes to planning policy make it likely that any new developments would be turned down or ‘called in’ for ministers to make a decision.
The Committee has advised that local communities and others with an interest in this area should consider submitting their views to the Welsh Government’s current public consultation on Draft Planning Policy Wales: Edition 10 prior to the closing date of 18 May 2018.
“We have heard clear concerns through two petitions about the protection that has been given to communities and the environment with regards to opencast mining applications,” said David Rowlands AM, Chair of the Petitions Committee.
“We were concerned about some of what we heard in relation to the way that previous planning applications for opencast mining have been managed.
“However, the evidence we have received from the Welsh Government demonstrates a clear steer away from new opencast mining developments being permitted in the future and new planning policy, which is currently being consulted on, provides a further opportunity for local communities to express their views.”
Read the full report:
Petitions P-04-472 Make the MTAN law and P-04-575 Call in all opencast mining applications (PDF, 262 KB)