This approach to coal tip reclamation could set a dangerous precedent for many communities across Wales, and could risk us seeing many more Ffos-y-fran's (Merthyr opencast mine). 

Given the climate crisis, is extracting coal to sell really a solution? Is it not going to exacerbate climate change, which in turn will increase rain fall and add to the risks of the thousands of tips we have in Wales? And how do we put a price on the nature that will be destroyed in the process, which will also add to reducing our resilience to climate change?

Just to be clear, there is no objection to the remediation of Bedwas Coal Tips. The objections are to the methods proposed, which is based on coal extraction. 

As a direct result of ERI's proposed methods, the impacts on the Sirhowy valley will be:

1. A haul route for the extracted coal through the Sirhowy Valley Country Park
2. A coal processing plant and washery located on the Rhymney Valley Ridgeway and forestry in the Sirhowy Valley Country Park
3. The environmental impact of relocating colliery spoil and coal washery waste onto the upper tip and across the common moorland

Conventional reclamation methods (as used at Tylorstown tip) do not require a coal haul route, a coal plant and washery, or the dumping of spoil and washery waste on the undeveloped countryside (common moorland). 

The outcomes of 1, 2 and 3 are all necessary due to the coal extraction methods proposed by ERI. 

Coal extraction pays for the apparent reclamation, but WHO pays for the outcomes of 1, 2 and 3?

The evidence for conventional reclamation methods based on re-profiling of the tips and establishing planting is provided in the CCBC 2010 proposals for the Bedwas tips which does not involve any of the ERI outcomes in 1, 2 and 3!