Recent storms have served as a reminder of how vulnerable communities are from slippage of coal tips, a Welsh politician has said.
Joel James MS, the shadow social partnership minister, was speaking in response to the Welsh Government’s announcement that more than £100m will be invested into coal tip safety this Senedd term to expediate work on disused tips across the country and that a Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Bill will establish a Disused Tips Authority for Wales.
Mr James said: “In addition to the weather there is a very real risk from scrambler bikes and 4×4 offroad vehicles that use the tips as a playground, ripping up the surface and destabilising them.”
“The Welsh Conservatives welcome the Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Bill that is being introduced and will be looking to ensure that more is done to stop damage from scramblers and 4×4 offroad vehicles, communities are involved in the decision-making process of making safe coal tips and that biodiversity is protected.”
His comments come after the landslip in Cwmtillery after Storm Bert.