, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
How would you characterise the council's relationship with local residents and community groups on this issue in years gone by, because, clearly, we've had evidence from individuals who feel that the council has come nowhere near where it should have been in…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Okay. Fine. Fair enough. Okay, thank you for that. Joyce.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
So, it sounds to me as if there's not much happening for the next few months. Is that an unfair characterisation? It might be. It might be.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Okay, fine, because I can't see how very meaningful those plans could be unless that expertise is very much around the table at a very early stage.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
And roughly when would that be, do you think? At what stage of the process, not in terms of dates, because we don't know them, do we?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
So, they won't be involved in any discussions about what might work or what might not work before something lands on your desk from MSW.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
So, there's no involvement in what that might look like until it's submitted. Is that what you're saying?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
So, you've chosen not to involve Carmarthenshire County Council, who provided you with mineral planning services in the discussions around the amended restoration plan or programme. Is there any particular reason for that, because I would expect their…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Yes, well I was going to roll two questions into one, if you'll allow me.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Very, very briefly, then, please, if you would, because we short on time.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
So, what's your understanding? I'm just a bit confused as to why we're talking about two different figures to do the same thing here.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Sorry, Janet, we're short on time here, so I'm going to have to maybe jump forward a little bit, but I just want to ask, first of all: it was referenced that MSW believe that the £15 million is for site restoration, so what is the £74.5 million sitting in a…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Thank you. Thank you, Julie. Janet.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Okay, we've moved firmly on to restoration now.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Thank you. Okay. Julie, you've been very patient. Thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Okay. Very, very briefly.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Okay. I've spoken with people who went out to look at the northern lights recently, and they said the whole place was illuminated and there were vehicles moving around. So, is that normal, would you expect, given the status of activity that you outlined?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Yes.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Okay, fine, because we're two thirds of the way through our time allocation and we're not even halfway through the areas of questioning that we were hoping to cover. There was reference to what's going on on the site, et cetera. Could you just explain to me…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Geraint. The other Geraint wanted to come in as well.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Geraint Thomas.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Geraint wants to come in on this as well.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Yes. Delyth.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
We'll come on to the revised restoration in a moment. Given that you've spoken a bit about abandonment, do you want to pick up—? I know both Janet and Delyth want to pursue that.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Thank you. Janet, back to you.
