Written question WQ100479
- Asked by
- Cristiana EmsleyReform
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
When did Natural Resources Wales first become aware of the concerns about illegal deposition of waste in Coedpoeth and Minera?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability (Llyr Gruffydd)
Welsh Government officials are in regular contact with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) regarding a range of waste regulation and enforcement issues, including reported waste deposition at sites in Coedpoeth and Minera. NRW has provided updates on its ongoing investigations and enforcement activity. Enforcement decisions and investigations are operational matters for NRW.
The assessment of the nature and origin of waste at these sites is part of NRW’s ongoing investigations. NRW has advised that, to date, it has not identified evidence of hazardous materials such as asbestos at the Coedpoeth site and has not identified evidence of pollution affecting nearby watercourses. Environmental risks continue to be assessed. NRW and Wrexham County Borough Council have already taken enforcement action, including the issuing of a Section 59 Environmental Protection Act 1990 notice requiring waste removal and measures to prevent further material being deposited.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is responsible for regulating waste activity and investigating potential environmental offences. NRW has undertaken inspections, gathered evidence, issued a Section 59 Environmental Protection Act 1990 notice in relation to the Coedpoeth site and continues to consider appropriate regulatory and enforcement action. As investigations remain ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the effectiveness of specific enforcement decisions.
According to Natural Resources Wales (NRW), it first attended the Coedpoeth site in June 2026 and began investigating the matter. In relation to Minera, NRW received reports concerning the Old Smelt Road site on 28 August 2026 and attended shortly afterwards.
The Cabinet Minister is aware of the reports of waste deposits at Coedpoeth and Minera and receives updates from officials and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) on the ongoing investigations. Determining the precise nature and origin of the material is an operational matter that forms part of NRW’s investigations. Those investigations remain ongoing and it would be inappropriate to prejudge their findings.