Meetings
Restoration of opencast mining sites
This page gives details of any meetings held which will, or did, discuss the matter, and includes links to the relevant Papers, Agendas and Minutes.
Note: Meeting Agenda can change at short notice. Particularly where future meeting dates are indicated more than a week in advance. Please check before planning to attend a Committee Meeting that the item you are interested in has not been moved.
Meeting: 18/03/2026 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 2)
2 The Welsh Government's Mining Legacy Group
Supporting documents:
Meeting: 05/03/2026 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 4)
- Webcast for 05/03/2026 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 05/03/2026 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
4 Restoration of opencast mining sites
Supporting documents:
- Letter from the Chair to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning in relation to the Ffos-y-Fran revised restoration scheme, item 4
PDF 97 KB
- Response from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning to the Chair in relation to the Ffos-y-Fran revised restoration scheme, item 4
PDF 153 KB
Meeting: 11/12/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 3)
- Webcast for 11/12/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 11/12/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
3 Restoration of opencast mining sites
Supporting documents:
- Letter from the Coal Action Network to the Chair in relation to the application to the restoration plan at the Ffos-y-fran land reclamation scheme, item 3
PDF 679 KB
- Letter from Friends of the Earth to the Chair in relation to the application to the restoration plan at the Ffos-y-fran land reclamation scheme, item 3
PDF 223 KB
- Letter from Chris and Alyson Austin to the Chair in relation to the application to the restoration plan at the Ffos-y-fran land reclamation scheme, item 3
PDF 157 KB
Meeting: 18/09/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 4)
- Webcast for 18/09/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 18/09/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
4 Restoration of opencast mining sites
Supporting documents:
Meeting: 07/05/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 3)
- Webcast for 07/05/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 07/05/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
3 Restoration of opencast mining sites
Supporting documents:
Meeting: 27/03/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 4)
- Webcast for 27/03/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 27/03/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
4 Restoration of opencast mining sites
Supporting documents:
Meeting: 27/03/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 9)
- Webcast for 27/03/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 27/03/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
9 Restoration of opencast mining sites
Supporting documents:
- Restricted enclosure 30 , View reasons restricted (9/1)
Minutes:
9.1 The Committee considered the evidence received under item 9.
Meeting: 12/03/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 4)
- Webcast for 12/03/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 12/03/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
4 Restoration of opencast mining sites
Supporting documents:
Meeting: 08/01/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 4)
- Webcast for 08/01/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 08/01/2025 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
4 Restoration of opencast mining sites
Supporting documents:
- Letter from the Chair to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs in relation to the committee's inquiry on the restoration of opencast mining sites, item 4
PDF 141 KB
- Response from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs to the Chair in relation to the committee's inquiry on the restoration of opencast mining sites, item 4
PDF 217 KB
- Letter from the Chair to Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd in relation to the committee's inquiry on the restoration of opencast mining sites, item 4
PDF 88 KB
Meeting: 13/11/2024 - Plenary (Item 6)
Debate on the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report - Restoration of opencast mining sites
NDM8720 Llyr
Gruffydd (North Wales)
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the Climate Change, Environment and
Infrastructure Committee report: Restoration of opencast mining sites, laid on 8 August 2024.
Note: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 6 November 2024. Swansea residents responded on 22 August 2024. Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council responded on 13 September 2024.
Minutes:
The item started at 16.48
NDM8720 Llyr Gruffydd (North
Wales)
To
propose that the Senedd:
Notes
the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report:
Restoration of opencast mining sites, laid on
8 August 2024.
Note:
The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in
the Table Office on 6 November 2024. Swansea residents responded on
22 August 2024. Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council responded on
13 September 2024.
The
motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Meeting: 03/10/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 5)
- Webcast for 03/10/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 03/10/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
5 Restoration of opencast mining sites
Supporting documents:
- Response from the leader of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council to the Committee's report: Restoration of opencast mining sites, item 5
PDF 321 KB
- Response from the Welsh Government to the Committee's report: Restoration of opencast mining sites, item 5
PDF 199 KB
Meeting: 18/07/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 2)
- Webcast for 18/07/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 18/07/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
2 Consideration of draft report on the restoration of opencast mining sites
Supporting documents:
- Restricted enclosure 51 , View reasons restricted (2/1)
Minutes:
2.1 Members agreed the draft report subject to a few minor amendments.
Meeting: 13/06/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 6)
- Webcast for 13/06/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 13/06/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
6 Restoration of opencast mining sites
Supporting documents:
- Additional evidence from Sue Jordan, former Cross-Valleys Group - Swansea, item 6
PDF 98 KB
- Additional evidence from Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Trust, item 6
PDF 116 KB
Meeting: 13/06/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 9)
- Webcast for 13/06/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 13/06/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
9 Restoration of opencast mining sites
Supporting documents:
- Restricted enclosure 60 , View reasons restricted (9/1)
- Restricted enclosure 61 , View reasons restricted (9/2)
- Restricted enclosure 62 , View reasons restricted (9/3)
Minutes:
9.1 Members considered the evidence received under item 9.
Meeting: 22/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 4)
- Webcast for 22/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 22/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
4 Restoration of opencast mining sites
Supporting documents:
- Additional evidence from The Coal Authority in relation to the inquiry on the restoration of opencast coalmining sites, item 4
PDF 253 KB
- Additional evidence from United Valleys Action Group in relation to the inquiry on the restoration of opencast coalmining sites, item 4
PDF 444 KB
- Additional evidence from Protecting and Conserving Together (PACT) in relation to the inquiry on the restoration of opencast mining sites, item 4
PDF 101 KB
- Letter from Friends of the Earth Cymru to Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council in relation to the Ffos Y Fran Land Reclamation Scheme - 19 April 2024, item 4
PDF 161 KB
- Response from Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council to Friends of the Earth Cymru in relation to the Ffos Y Fran Land Reclamation Scheme - 14 May 2024, item 4
PDF 761 KB
Meeting: 22/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 3)
- Webcast for 22/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 22/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
3 Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 6
Geraint Thomas, Leader of the Council - Merthyr Tydfil
County Borough Council
Ellis Cooper, Chief Executive - Merthyr Tydfil County
Borough Council
Judith Jones, Director of Neighbourhood Services - Merthyr
Tydfil County Borough Council
Carwyn Morris, Head of Engineering - Merthyr Tydfil County
Borough Council
David Cross, Principal Planning Officer - Merthyr Tydfil
County Borough Council
Geraint Morgan, Solicitor - Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Supporting documents:
- Restricted enclosure 74 , View reasons restricted (3/1)
Minutes:
3.1 The Committee received evidence from representatives from Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.
Meeting: 09/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 3)
- Webcast for 09/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 09/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 5
Hugh Towns, Senior Manager Development & Enforcement -
Carmarthenshire County Council
Minutes:
3.1 The Committee received evidence from Carmarthenshire County Council.
Meeting: 09/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 6)
- Webcast for 09/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 09/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
6 Restoration of opencast mining sites
Supporting documents:
- Letter from the Chair to the Leader and the Chief Executive for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council in relation to the Restoration of opencast mining sites, item 6
PDF 84 KB
- Letter from Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Trust to the Chair in relation to the Ffos y Fran opencast aftercare, item 6
PDF 137 KB
Meeting: 09/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 2)
- Webcast for 09/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 09/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
2 Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 4
Alyson Austin, resident, United Valleys Action Group -
Merthyr Tydfil
Chris Austin, resident, United Valleys Action Group -
Merthyr Tydfil
Sue Jordan, resident, former Cross-Valleys Group - Swansea
Owen Jordan, resident, former Cross-Valleys Group - Swansea
Gaynor Ball, resident, former Protecting and Conserving
Together (PACT) - Margam
Suzanne De Celis, resident, former Protecting and Conserving
Together (PACT) - Margam
Supporting documents:
- Restricted enclosure 85 , View reasons restricted (2/1)
- Restricted enclosure 86 , View reasons restricted (2/2)
- Paper - Merthyr residents, item 2
PDF 442 KB
- Paper - Swansea residents, item 2
PDF 1 MB
- Paper - Margam residents, item 2
PDF 124 KB
- Appendix A - Merthyr residents, item 2
PDF 3 MB
- Appendix B - Merthyr residents, item 2
PDF 804 KB
- Appendix C - Merthyr residents, item 2
PDF 276 KB
- Appendix A - Swansea residents, item 2
PDF 3 MB
- Appendix B - Swansea residents, item 2
PDF 204 KB
- Appendix C - Swansea residents, item 2
PDF 3 MB
Minutes:
2.1 The Committee received evidence from local residents.
Meeting: 09/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 6)
- Webcast for 09/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 09/05/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
6 Restoration of opencast mining sites
Supporting documents:
- Response from the Chief Executive of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council to the Chair in relation to Ffos-y-Fran opencast coalmine, item 6
PDF 52 KB
- Response from Merthyr South Wales Limited to the Chair in relation to Ffos-y-Fran opencast coalmine, item 6
PDF 39 KB
Meeting: 24/04/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 2)
- Webcast for 24/04/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 24/04/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
2 Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 1
Carl Banton, Operations Director - The Coal Authority
Supporting documents:
- Restricted enclosure 104 , View reasons restricted (2/1)
- Paper - Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, item 2
PDF 156 KB
- Paper - The Coal Authority, item 2
PDF 223 KB
Minutes:
2.1 The Committee received evidence from The Coal Authority.
Meeting: 24/04/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 4)
- Webcast for 24/04/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 24/04/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
4 Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 3
Marcus Bailie, Campaigner - Extinction Rebellion Cymru
David Kilner, Campaign Coordinator - Climate Cymru
Supporting documents:
Minutes:
4.1 The Committee received evidence from representatives from Extinction Rebellion Cymru and Climate Cymru.
Meeting: 24/04/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 3)
- Webcast for 24/04/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 24/04/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
3 Restoration of opencast mining sites - evidence session 2
Daniel Therkelsen, Campaigner - The Coal Action Network
Haf Elgar, Director - Friends of the Earth Cymru
Supporting documents:
Minutes:
3.1 The Committee received evidence from representatives from The Coal Action Network and Friends of the Earth Cymru.
Meeting: 21/03/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 5)
- Webcast for 21/03/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 21/03/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
5 Ffos-y-Fran opencast coalmine
Supporting documents:
- Follow up letter from the Chair to the Minister for Climate Change in relation to the Ffos y Fran opencast coal mine, item 5
PDF 76 KB
- Response from the Minister for Climate Change to the Chair in relation to Ffos-y-Fran opencast coalmine, item 5
PDF 205 KB
Meeting: 18/01/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 3)
- Webcast for 18/01/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 18/01/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
3 Ffos-y-Fran opencast coalmine
Supporting documents:
Meeting: 13/12/2023 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 4)
- Webcast for 13/12/2023 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 13/12/2023 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
4 Ffos-y-Fran opencast coal mine
Supporting documents:
- Letter from the Coal Action Network to the Chair in relation to Ffos-y-Fran opencast coal mine, item 4
PDF 138 KB
- Letter from the Coal Authority to the Welsh Government in relation to Ffos-y-Fran opencast coal mine, item 4
PDF 146 KB
- Ministerial advice in relation to Ffos-y-Fran opencast coal mine, item 4
PDF 164 KB
Meeting: 28/09/2023 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 6)
- Webcast for 28/09/2023 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 28/09/2023 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
6 Ffos-y-Fran opencast coalmine
Supporting documents:
- Correspondence from Helen Morgan MP to the Climate Change Committee in relation to Ffos-y-Fran opencast coalmine, item 6
PDF 737 KB
View as HTML (6/1) 22 KB
Meeting: 20/09/2023 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 4)
- Webcast for 20/09/2023 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 20/09/2023 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
4 Ffos-y-Fran opencast coalmine
Supporting documents:
- Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Climate Change in relation to the Ffos-y-Fran opencast coal mine in Merthyr Tydfil, item 4
PDF 104 KB
- Response from the Minister for Climate Change to the Chair in relation to Ffos-y-Fran opencast coalmine, item 4
PDF 191 KB
Meeting: 06/07/2023 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 4)
- Webcast for 06/07/2023 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 06/07/2023 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
4 Ffos-y-Fran opencast coal mine - Legal opinion commissioned and shared by Coal Action Network
Supporting documents:
Meeting: 08/06/2023 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 4)
- Webcast for 08/06/2023 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
- Transcript for 08/06/2023 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
4 Ffos-y-Fran opencast coal mine
Supporting documents:
- Letter from the Coal Action Network to the Chair regarding Ffos-y-Fran opencast coal mine, item 4
PDF 622 KB
View as HTML (4/1) 8 KB