Opencast mine buffer zone welcomed

20 Jan 2009

The Welsh Assembly Government’s announcement that a 500 metre buffer zone will be required between opencast mines and residential properties has been welcomed by Friends of the Earth Cymru.

Today’s (Tuesday 20th January) announcement has come in the Coal Mineral Technical Advice Note (MTAN 2), which will also introduce Health Impact Assessments for coal applications.

Friends of the Earth Cymru Director, Gordon James, said:

“Local residents must be protected from the harmful noise, dust and pollution associated with opencast mining. We welcome the Assembly Government’s agreement that there will now be a 500 metre buffer zone between any opencast workings and the nearest properties.

“Research at Cardiff University has raised concerns about negative health impacts on communities close to opencast coal mining operations [1]. So we’re pleased that the Assembly Government will introduce Health Impact Assessments for coal planning applications.

“Let’s hope this can prevent any more shameful decisions like Ffos-y-Fran in Merthyr Tydfil, where an opencast mine just 35 metres from homes is blighting people’s lives.”

NOTES

1. ‘The Health Impact Assessment of the Proposed Extension to the Margam Opencast Mine by the Welsh Health Impact Assessment Support Unit and National Public Health Service for Wales’ (December 2005) concluded that “there is sufficient uncertainty regarding the negative health impacts to apply the ‘precautionary principle’, which would not allow opencast mining to proceed in such close proximity to residential areas” and ”This HIA has shown that the likely negative impacts on health and wellbeing of an extension to the Margam Opencast site are far in excess of positive health impacts.”

For further information please contact Friends of the Earth Cymru on 029 2022 9577

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