, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Very interesting, thank you very much for that.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Yes. Any international examples? I know maybe that's a bit of an ask, but—.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Is there anywhere where they get it right, basically, isn't it? That's what we want to know.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Okay, thank you. Thank you. Carolyn.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Okay. I mean, you're entitled to your view, and that's absolutely right, and you're entitled to express that. I'm sure the authority would want to challenge that in some way, and of course they're more than welcome to write to us. But I'm just interested to…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
To maximise—. Yes, we were told that a few weeks ago.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
And what does that mean?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
I mean, you could potentially understand why the private company themselves wouldn't want to engage. Why do you think the local authority and the Coal Authority were reticent to engage?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
So, why do you think that was necessary on their part, then?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Okay. Sue.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
What, in the system, is letting us down, effectively?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
There we are. We'll come back to Janet, then. Janet.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
No. Yes, I understand what you're saying. Okay.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Well, we have the council coming in in a fortnight's time, so we can ask them about that.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Thank you. Julie, then, yes.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Indeed, yes.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Of course. Indeed, that's why we as a committee are looking at this, because why are we finding ourselves back in this position every time this tends to happen?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Maybe, Alyson, do you want to go first on this one, and then I'll bring Sue in?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Okay, and that's a cause of concern in itself, isn't it, really, for others living in the vicinity. Okay, we'll develop some of these themes as we go along, so thank you for that. So, I'll invite Janet now, then. Janet, do you want to come in with a few…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Right.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
So, do you know whether there are ongoing discussions around restoration still within the local authority?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Thank you. Can I ask, then, in what way the restoration that has happened on the site there differs to what was originally intended as part of the planning application?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Okay. There we are. Thank you. Sue or Owen.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
We'll move on, therefore, to the first item of the meeting. Of course, this morning we continue to take evidence with regard to the restoration of opencast mining sites, with a focus on the Ffos-y-fran site in particular, but also including other sites in…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest
Good morning and welcome to you all to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee here at the Senedd. Can I welcome Julie Morgan, who is joining us for the first time as a member of the committee? Welcome, Julie. This meeting is, of course…
