HC Deb 22 May 1980 vol 985 cc270-1W
Dr. Roger Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will stipulate a minimum distance at which opencast coal seams can be worked by the National Coal Board when the Glyn Tai opencast site in South-West Wales becomes operational.

Mr. John Moore

The excavation area which will be authorised at Glyn Tai does not approach less than 82 yds from the nearest occupied dwelling.

Dr. Roger Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will seek to prohibit large lorries from being used to carry coal from the Glyn Tai opencast site to the disposal plant at Cwmmawr at the times when children are being taken to and from the primary schools that lie along the routes.

Mr. John Moore

The inspector's report of the public inquiry on the Glyn Tai site, a copy of which was sent to the hon. Member, indicated that the coal would be transported along routes agreed by the county council and that, if necessary, coal traffic would be restricted to specified times so as to ease possible congestion. The inspector took the view that these routes had been used without untoward recorded difficulties and he placed no reservations on the matter. I do not, therefore, consider that any further restrictions on lorry traffic are necessary.

Dr. Roger Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what were his reasons for overruling the final recommendations of the independent inspector who carried out the public inquiry into the proposed Glyn Tai opencast site in South-West Wales that authorisation for National Coal Board working of the site should not be granted.

Mr. John Moore

The reasons for authorising this site were fully set out in a letter dated 23 April 1980 addressed to the secretary of the opencast executive of the National Coal Board, which was copied to the hon. Member. It was clear from the inspector's report that he recommended against authorisation because of his belief that the Glyn Tai site should not be worked pending the completion of the civil engineering operations at the Rhos colliery site. The decision to grant authorisation in fact was made only on condition that operations should not begin until civil engineering work at Rhos colliery site was complete and the site was ready for restoration to agricultural use.