Heledd Fychan Canol De Cymru - South Wales Central

Following the publication today of the breakdown of where Wales’ 327 higher-risk tips are located by local authority, Heledd Fychan Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central has called for the precise locations to be published and urgent action taken.

71 coal tips are now considered to be in the worst category of risk – Category D - with 23 of those within Rhondda Cynon Taf. A further 52 in Rhondda Cynon Taf are in Category C, which also poses a higher potential safety risk.

Reacting to this news, Heledd Fychan MS stated: “Only last year with the landslide at Tylorstown following Storm Dennis, we were starkly reminded of the threat posed by coal tips to the communities living in their shadows.

“With the news that more are considered dangerous, urgent action is now needed to clear these tips once and for all and remove the danger. 

“Both the UK Government and the Welsh Government are arguing over who should pay. Our communities need action not words, and I urge both Governments to work together so that we never again experience a tragedy such as what happened in Aberfan.

“People living in the communities most at risk should also be told the status of the coal tips nearby, so that they can help authorities by urgently reporting any changes they may see. They are already living in fear, and we should be completely transparent in terms of the risk they are facing and the steps being taken to safeguard them.”