



(Title Image: Coflein Mapping)

P-04-472 “Make the MTAN law” P-04-575 “Call in All Opencast Mining Planning Applications”

Submitted by Dr John Cox, United Valleys Action Group

Signatures: 7,360 (combined – online)

Petition Supporting Evidence

Petitions Committee Report (link)

The Welsh Government should call-in plans for opencast mines due to the effect they have beyond the immediate local area.

Putting a 500-metre buffer zone between opencast mines and residential areas isn’t currently mandatory in Welsh planning law.

Key Points

Chair of the Petitions Committee, David Rowlands AM (UKIP, South Wales East)

The application for an opencast site near Varteg in Torfaen breached guidance in the MTAN 2 (planning guidance for mining) in relation to the buffer zone.

The Planning Inspectorate ignored MTAN guidance when the developer’s appeal (against its rejected planning application by Torfaen Council) was successful.

Calling in all opencast mines and reviewing them would ensure consistency in planning decisions.