, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
Before I ask Daniel to come in—we literally have three minutes left—may I just ask—? Obviously, we're aware that the Welsh Government are currently preparing a coal tips Bill. We had hoped that we would have seen it by now; it seems that it will come at some…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
Right. Well, that takes us into an area where I'd be keen to ask some questions, and I would just like to ask a question or two about legislation and policy. So, obviously, you're unhappy with the regime as it is. I assume that you'd be keen to see some kind…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
Briefly.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
Okay. Diolch. We're going to have to move on, I'm afraid. Carolyn.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
And this is the restoration in full, as intended originally.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
Okay. Thank you. Sorry, Delyth.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
Could I just pick up on something here? Because Merthyr council, of course, have declined our invitation to come and give oral evidence, so I'll just throw back to you a little bit. Capacity issues are known within planning departments across Wales and…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
There we are. Okay. Thank you very much. Delyth.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
There we are. Okay. Sorry, Haf.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
Thank you. We'll move on to Delyth, then. [Interruption.] Oh, sorry, yes, Carolyn, please do.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
Okay. There we are. Sorry, we lost you momentarily there, Mark.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
Haf.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
Daniel.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
Welcome back to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee here at the Senedd. We're moving to our second evidence session today, and I'd like to welcome Daniel Therkelsen from the Coal Action Network, and Haf Elgar, who is the director of…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Thank you. So, we'll break now until 10.15 a.m., when we'll hear from our next panel. Diolch yn fawr.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
Indeed, we're very grateful, and we may well be writing with a few additional questions, maybe after hearing from others as well.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
—for joining us, and for giving us a firm basis to kick off our short inquiries on this particular subject? So, diolch yn fawr iawn. The committee will now break just for a brief five minutes so that we can get the next panel in—
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
Excellent. Well, it's very nearly to the second 10.10 a.m., so can I thank you, Mr Banton, for your evidence—
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
A final chance for Delyth.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
Yes, there we are, okay. Well, we've got a couple of minutes left, so, Mark, would you just want to conclude?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
Well, I think Delyth wants to come in as well on a few areas, just to pick up, and we'll come back if there's time. Delyth.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
Thank you. Mark.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
Would we be in this position had the best practice been utilised in full?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
Places as in areas of policy, or geographically?
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
To what extent has the best practice guidance been implemented? Because we're not in a good place, are we? So, what does that say about whether the good practice is actually being utilised?
