Merthyr Tydfil: Ffos-y-Fran mine accused of licence breach

The relation of the UK's past opencast ember excavation has been accused of breaching its licence aft inspectors recovered it was mining extracurricular its permitted area.

Merthyr Tydfil's Ffos-y-Fran excavation produces two-thirds of the UK's ember and was expected to adjacent successful September arsenic its readying support had expired.

Operator Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd said it would not beryllium due to remark "while the entreaty process is ongoing".

The Coal Authority, which issues licences successful the UK, has present sent the institution a last enforcement notice, saying it is satisfied the relation is continuing to excavation successful contravention of the 1994 Coal Industry Act.

It stated: "You are required to cease each extraction of ember extracurricular of the licence country with contiguous effect and pass the authorization that this has taken place."

Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd wanted to widen the licence until 2024, arguing ember from the excavation was needed by the alloy industry.

But assembly readying officials refused the exertion successful April, saying the projected hold did not acceptable with Welsh authorities policies connected tackling clime change.

It means accumulation is acceptable to extremity astatine Ffos-y-Fran aft 16 years of excavation.

It primitively won readying support successful 2005 and enactment began 2 years aboriginal to excavate 11 cardinal tonnes of ember crossed a tract the size of 400 shot pitches.

The different purpose was to reconstruct the onshore - riddled with the remains of aged industries - backmost to greenish hillside for the community's payment arsenic enactment progressed.

But determination was stiff absorption owed to the mine's proximity to homes and businesses.

The closest houses were initially little than 40m (132ft) away, and residents led a agelong campaign, saying their lives were being blighted by ember particulate and noise.

Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd said: "Having antecedently advised it would not beryllium due to remark whilst the entreaty process is ongoing, we volition not beryllium responding to immoderate further requests from the BBC."

The Welsh authorities said making immoderate remark portion the entreaty process was ongoing could "jeopardise immoderate aboriginal determination Welsh ministers whitethorn person to marque connected the matter".

Merthyr Tydfil assembly said its readying part "continue to reappraisal the due enforcement options successful airy of the continued operations taking place, which includes the usage of a halt notice".

It added: "We are alert of the steps being taken by the Coal Authority and we volition proceed to show the situation."