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Ffos-y-Fran from the air

Residents Against Ffos-y-Fran (R.A.F.F. Group)

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Latest Updates

 

u UPDATE: Friday 07/01/2011 -

For those of us who have been forced to do battle with large companies and government departments in an attempt to obtain environmental justice, only to be thwarted by the threat of massive costs by those with bottomless pits of money will be lifted by this report.

The Supreme Court has today taken an important step towards securing access to justice. The Court has decided that what people should be expected to pay when they take cases to court may depend on what an ordinary person should be expected to pay rather than expecting them to risk all their assets.....<more>

 

u UPDATE: Friday 07/01/2011 -

Many people have asked us if the Group Litigation Order (GLO) challenge by Merthyr Residents is still going forward, or whether it has been quashed. The GLO is not being organised by the RAFF Group, so we verified the details with the solicitors.....<more>

 

u UPDATE: Thursday 11/11/2010 -

The Group Litigation Order ((GLO) has come before the court at the Cardiff District Registry who were to rule on whether the GLO could progress. The court ruled that there was sufficient evidence to grant a Group Litigation Order (GLO), but it declined to do so because.....<more>

 

u UPDATE: Wednesday 22/09/2010 -

Congratulations to our own Alyson Austin; she came runner up for a national environment campaigner award from the Sheila McKechnie foundation.....<more>

 

u UPDATE: Monday 06/09/2010 -

A number of Merthyr Residents have contacted Richard Buxton Environmental & Public Law Solicitors in relation to dust and noise nuisance arising from the Ffos-y-fran opencast operations and that they are have applied for a group litigation order to take nuisance proceedings against Miller-Argent (South Wales) Ltd in order to stop the dust and noise arising. .....<more>

u UPDATE: Monday 14/06/2010 -

Two of our group went over to Rossport, County Mayo to show solidarity with the community struggle the local people there are having with Shell. Chris and Alyson Austin made their own way over and met the bike riders as they got to Rossport.....<more>

 

u UPDATE: Sunday 23/05/2010 -

The Merthyr to mayo cyclists left early today heading for Swansea to catch the Cork ferry to start their trip across Sothern Ireland, up the West coast to count Mayo. A small community there in Rossport is having a titanic struggle with Royal Dutch Shell who are attempting to bring a high pressure gas pipeline through their community......<more>

u UPDATE: Monday 22/03/2010 -

Some extremely fit and committed people will be riding to Rossport, County Mayo from Merthyr Tydfil to highlight community struggles against exploitation and fossil fuel extraction....<more>

 

u UPDATE: Thursday 17/12/2009 -

The News page has a short report on the result of the vote on Miller-Argents application to vary their planning permission at Ffos-y-Fran....<more>

 

u UPDATE: Wednesday 16/12/2009 -

The News page has been brought up to date with the latest events. Sorry that they have been some time in coming, the Masked  Avenger has been a little pressed for time recently. Enjoy.... <more>

 

u UPDATE: Sunday 6/12/2009 -

See pictures of RAFF representatives at The Wave march in London... <more>

 

u UPDATE: Friday 27/11/2009 -

The Brecon Mountain Railway and the coal-by-road statement has been reworded after clarification by Mr Alyson Austin. Apologies for the poor copy on the original... <more>

 

u UPDATE: Tuesday 10/11/2009 -

Have a look at some recent aerial photographs of Merthyr Tydfil and Ffos-y-Fran and see how the mine dominates the town. <more>

 

u UPDATE: Wednesday 07/10/2009 -

Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council fail to get residents legal aid withdrawn :

Merthyr Council have failed in their callous attempt to remove a local resident’s right to legal aid. .. <more>

 

u UPDATE: Friday 02/10/2009 -

Liaison meetings have now descended into a farce! :

The Ffos-y-Fran liaison meeting, run by Miller-Argent, chaired by the council with a handful of community representatives, has always been of dubious efficacy, but this Thursdays meeting plumbed new depths. . .. <more>

u UPDATE: Saturday 25/09/2009 - Unveiling the truth behind the silly little story about the Brecon Mountain Railway getting its coal from Russia. You won't be surprised to know that it has nothing to do with what is really going on... <more>

 

u UPDATE: Sunday 06/09/2009 - A brief synopsis of our fight and the issues with Ffos-y-Fran

I've added a synopsis of the issue here in Merthyr Tydfil with the opencast mine, and the history of our fight. A brief history of time (sorry Mr Hawking...) here in Merthyr of the RAFF Group's fight per se.

 

u UPDATE: Tuesday 11/08/2009 -  

Climate Camp Cymru - a huge success :

We were privileged to host the very first Climate Camp Cymru (CCC) here in Merthyr up on unused land at the end of the  Goat Mill Road. We attended every day and had a wonderful time.  . .. <more>

 

u UPDATE: Tuesday 04/08/2009 - The Friends of the Earth Green Awareness Day

It's all happening in Merthyr in August. First Climate Camp Cymru, now the green awareness day. Take a look at the Events page for more info.  <More>

 

u UPDATE: 16/06/2009 - Questions to Covanta Engineering

At their request, I sent off a list of questions (29 off) to Covanta Engineering that form the core issues with their proposal as I see it... <More>

 

u UPDATE: 15/06/2009 - Climate Camp Cymru is happening

13th-16th August 2009 . Get involved now!  …<More>

 

u UPDATE: 07/06/2009 - Black Rain for residents on Friday 5th June 2009

The first rain after a protracted dry spell brought black rain to the residents of Incline Top, and beyond.   …<More>

 

u UPDATE: 29/05/2009 - Ms Jane Davidson denies us an opportunity to speak with her once more

FoE open meeting, Abergavenny :

Jane Davidson addressed members of FoE Wales and members of the public at an open meeting at Abergavenny on Friday 22nd May 2009. 

Ms Davidson said several things that varied from highly dubious to just incorrect. …<More>

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u UPDATE: 28/05/2009 - Miller-Argent's Financiers

Miller-Argents latest Newsletter (3): The company is complaining that we hyped up their relationship with the BT pensions scheme. Our statement.

This news has been on our website for well over a year now, and the revelation at that time was not that they were funded by the BT pension Scheme, but that the only people acknowledging the link was Miller-Argent themselves…<More>

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u UPDATE: 10/03/2009 - Incinerator

Week-In, Week-Out: Investigating the impact of the proposed waste incinerator up at Ffos-y-Fran. Watch here >>> :

Lots of input from our own Alyson Austin and Terry Evans. Please take the time to watch this...

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u UPDATE: 16/02/2009 - Incinerator

Incinerator proposed for Merthyr Tydfil!: Our views on the proposal to build a huge waste incinerator up at Ffos-y-Fran. Read more >>> :

Our comments and an information dump for issues with incinerators.

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u UPDATE: 14/02/2009 - News

Miller-Argent crank the noise up a notch !: Our caring, sharing mining company, Miller-Argent have decided that it’s now time to go ‘balls out’ with the noise from Ffos-y-Fran. Read more >>> :

This last week (26th to 31st January 2009) has been absolutely horrific! But snow and ice has given us a short break...

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u UPDATE: 29/01/2009 - News

MTAN2 for Coal and the 500m Buffer Zone - a sheep in wolfs clothing? More like a hamster!: The WAG have finally issued the MTAN2 for coal - Link Here : They have included a 500 meter buffer zone, but also a big list of exclusion clauses so that they won't actually ever have to implement it!

Weasel words and cop-out clauses define this document.

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u UPDATE: 29/01/2009 - News

The RAFF group delves into Europe!: The RAFF Groups legal representative, Mr Paul Stookes, has asked the European parliament to take a look at our case - Link Here : They have been asked to pay particular attention to the fact that the WAG refused to implement an environmental impact assessment despite it being a European directive

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u UPDATE: 09/01/2009 - Picture Gallery

A Happy New Year to all our readers!: Panorama - Take a look at the Panorama program - The Big Dig : Who wants to live next to an opencast mine? Not us, but we have to. This is in 3 parts for expediency.

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u UPDATE: 30/11/2008 - News

ABERTHAW: Busting the Myth of Carbon Capture? : Aberthaw is to have the first pilot plant for Carbon Capture (clean coal technology) - but what are the facts? My view on the selling of false hopes to the masses.

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u UPDATE: 24/11/2008 - News

PANORAMA - YES, PANORAMA!: The Big Dig - Who Wants to Live Next to an Opencast Mine? : Panorama will be investigating the governments two-faced energy policy! Watch your carbon footprint! Unless you're the government and you haven't got an energy policy; then, in a panic, dig as much coal as you can, and burn it all before anybody realises what you're up to!! Exploring the impact of opencast mining on the local residents, including us!

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u UPDATE: 10/11/2008 -

HELLO WORLD!: The Masked Avenger is back online! : Unfortunately, I've had other things to deal with over the last few months and I have been neglecting my editorial responsibilities here; but now it's time to get back to work!!! A world to save and dirty dealings to uncover... Watch this space..!

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u UPDATE: 10/06/2008 - Links Links Added : Radio 4 - File on Four with Julian O'Haloran, and Looking at our flawed energy policy and the new coal age sites ç Interview with our Alyson Austin of the RAFF Group...oh, and some members of the cabinet!

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