Ffos-y-Fran from the air
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Welcome to the
Residents Against Ffos-y-Fran
(R.A.F.F.)
opencast mine:
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News Page
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Thursday, 17th April 2008: Argent Unmasked!!
The Argent group, of mining company Miller-Argent fame, has a little secret...they are a wholly owned subsidiary of the BT Pensions Group!
In 1997 Argent was acquired for £240 million by BT Pension Scheme, at that time Argent's principal development partner. BT Pension Scheme is the largest pension fund in the UK.
The Guardian yesterday (16th April 2008) carried a small article revealing this fact:
Eco Soundings - John Vidal and David Adam - The Guardian, Wednesday April 16 2008.
'The giant Ffos-y-Fran opencast mine outside Merthyr Tydfil will contribute more to climate change emissions than any other mine in Britain over the next few years. But property development group Argent, which is one half of the joint venture, prefers to talk about how green its buildings are. "We are trying to deliver lower energy, greener buildings in the right locations," it says. What Argent does not say, but which has been dug out by a rather shocked Friends of the Earth Swansea, is that Argent is wholly owned by BT's pension fund, which was voted Britain's top ethical pension fund last year'.
You won't find any mention of Ffos-y-Fran on the Argent website or the BT pensions site. Don't they want us all to know about their involvement in this prestigious redevelopment scheme? Name and Shame!
Take a look at the comment [here] from the 'Building' website. He doesn't have all the facts about our argument but still presents a very good article.
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Saturday, 5th April 2008: Fossil Fools/Fuels Week - what a week!
A series of events took place this week to highlight the idiocy of investing in fossil fuels when the impact on the climate of burning the stuff is now fairly well accepted.
On Tuesday, a group of like minded individuals invaded the Ffos-y-Fran opencast mining site and chained themselves to the main gates, machinery, and climbed on top of the high washery building.
Besides causing havoc at the site itself, they attracted a lot of media interest and managed to get their message across on the mines impact on the climate, and also it's more immediate impact on the local residents of Merthyr Tydfil.
As Aberthaw power station is the main beneficiary of the coal mining operation at Ffos-y-Fran it made itself the target for another demonstration on Thursday. People from all over Britain took the opportunity to show their dissatisfaction with the governments energy policy (or the lack of one!) by staging a peacful protest on the power station site.
The week, for us, culminated on Saturday with a march against climate change, and Ffos-y-Fran from the top of Merthyr down around the town center, finishing with an open air rally outside the Merthyr Council offices.
The speakers were: Mike German - Leader of the Lib/Dems in Wales, Jill Evans - Plaid MEP and Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru , Gordon James - Director FoE Cardiff, George Monbiot Journalist and Environmentalist, and last but certainly not least our Terry Evans, Chairman of the RAFF Group. Also attending were Leanne Wood and Bethan Jenkins showing further representation from Plaid Cymru
A mock wedding was staged which was an hilarious send-up of a marriage made in Hell between Miller-Argent (the groom) and Merthyr Council (the bride), it makes very funny though poignant reading. -click here for a transcript-
A public meeting followed at St davids Church hall, and then a let-your-hair down evening with live music, dancing, and poetry from some extremely talented artists.
A grand time was had by all! apart from, of course, Miller-Argent, Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council, the WAG, RWE npower at Aberthaw, etc...
A week to remember, and something to build a future upon.
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Wednesday, 5th March 2008: Ooerr... Secret Squirrel! Not in the Public Interest, obviously...
The Merthyr Tydfil borough Council, met in secret today to consider the impact of enforcement action as part of the High Court claim that has been lodged against the council over the Ffos-y-Fran opencast mine.
Solicitor Paul Stookes, representing neighbouring resident Elizabeth Condron, said: “A claim has been issued against Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council because it is unwilling to enforce a planning condition that there should be no excavation beyond a certain distance which is, at its closest, 70 metres from people’s homes.
He continues “Such a failure to enforce the condition will allow the operators to excavate right up to the site boundary, which is as close as 35 metres from local residents. We consider this to be unlawful and in the absence of agreement by the council to enforce, are having to ask the High Court to intervene.”
Tuesday, 4th March 2008: Welsh Assembly debate 500m Buffer Zone
The Welsh Assembly today sat today to debate the introduction of a 500m buffer zone for all future opencast mining schemes in Wales.
The Welsh Assembly Government is proposing tougher rules following the row over Ffos-y-Fran opencast mine. Residents (us!) have protested about the mine, claiming there will not be enough protection from noise, dust and pollution,(you'd better believe it!)
Campaigners (us again!) against Ffos-y-Fran, who have called for the 500m (1,640ft) buffer zone, welcomed the debate.
Editors Comment: I cannot understand the argument that a 500m buffer zone is to be introduced to protect the quality of life of people living near opencast sites, but only for some people. How does Jane Davidson reconcile applying the obviously needed protection to some, but not others? Either there is a need for people to be protected, or there isn't. It cannot be arbitrarily applied
In a similar vein, there can either be a need for the buffer zone to be 500m, or not, it cannot be any less. If 500m affords protection, anything less will erode that protection.
Tuesday, 19th February 2008: New Green Energy plans for Wales
WAG Environment Minister, Jane Davidson, announced plans for a greener energy policy for Wales in the future. She is calling it a "route map" on renewable energy.
She said Wales could "lead the battle" against climate change, as its coal powered the industrial revolution.
I'd love to think that our efforts have helped at least a little in this laudable change of direction.
Friday, 15th February 2008: No Peace for the Wicked
After a brief respite from the mining noise over the month of January, we have been plunged back into mining hell over the last couple of weeks.
We have had to suffer incessant and intrusive noise when mining recommenced recently. Loud low frequency droning noise echoing throughout the house, with nowhere to go to escape from it.
Despite assurances (since mid December 2007!!!) that they will be building up earthworks to damp down the noise, nothing has been put in place. Apparently, this can't be put in place overnight... OK, but it's been about 9-10 weks now! Surely building big 'berms' with a bulldozer can't take that long?
Don't forget, they turned the whole mountainside into a good likeness of the Somme in just a few weeks...
Friday, 8th February 2008: Call for Judicial Review of Merthyr Tydfil County Council's unwillingness to enforce control on mining boundaries
Mr Paul Stookes, Solicitor, on behalf of Mrs Elizabeth Condron, today presented Merthyr Town council with a High Court claim.
As reported in the South Wales Echo today, the High Court have been asked to intervene after the council failed to agree to enforce the boundaries on the mining operation at Ffos-y-Fran which would allow them to work up to 35 Metres from the nearest residents. This is seen to be a breach of planning permission.
Thursday, 7th February 2008: Jane Davidson offers 500M buffer zone to Wales
Jane Davidson, the WAG Environment Minister, has today stated that they are looking to implement a 500M buffer zone for future opencast mining schemes in Wales. As this won't be retrospectively introduced, it will not be applied to Ffos-y-Fran.
It's ironic that we have fought for this protection for the last 5 years, both for ourselves and for Wales, and now it is to be denied to us!
The reason it has been introduced is for exactly the same reason that we have campaigned for, the impact on nearby residents, and have been told to date (by the WAG) that such protection was not required!
The question is - did Jane offer this out of the goodness of her heart? Or did she succumb to the pressure that we have heaped on the WAG over the last few years, and most especially this year?
Obviously, I couldn't possibly comment....but I'm pretty sure I know how Jane will sell it!
Wednesday, 30th January 2008: A brief respite
We have had no significant mining carried out in close proximity to our homes since Christmas. Although this is gratefully received, I'm pretty sure that it's not been done out of the goodness of their hearts!
We can only speculate as to why this is, but we have enjoyed a little bit of normality over the last month and this has made us even more determined to put a stop to this thing, or at the very least get a buffer zone implemented.
Wednesday, 14th December 2007: A new Legal Challenge?
It is hoped that the fight in the courts can be continued. A case has been assembled, but it is awaiting approval from the high court. Watch this space, and keep your fingers crossed!
14th December 2007: Thanks for nothing...
The mining operation has now stepped up a good few notches and the residents of Twyn, Mountain Hare, and Incline Top are now suffering incessant noise for 16 hours a day. The nearest residents are experiencing significant dust and dirt fallout, the source of which has to be confirmed because Miller-Argent have denied responsibility even though they are mining only 37 Metres away, and there has been no previous history of significant fallout!.
We have asked Miller-Argent to be more sensitive at the extreme ends of the day (they are working 07:00 to 23:00), but they have flatly refused.
These are just the early days of infrastructure work; God help us all when they start the mining proper
13th December 2007: WAG refuses to revoke the Planning Permission
After 7 months of obfuscating, the Welsh Assembly Government have refused to revoke the planning permission for the Ffos-y-Fran opencast mine. Although a significant amount of information was provided to them detailing many irregularities during the planning process they stated that there was nothing that would impact the decision.
Ms. Jayne Davidson (the Minister for Environment and Planning) did not have the courtesy to come up to Merthyr and see the mining operation and speak with the group, or any of the residents. When they finally deigned to make a decision on the appeal, they didn't even give us the courtesy of informing us directly, they informed the South Wales Echo who then got in touch with us.
It makes me so proud to be supported by such a caring Welsh government...!
Wednesday, 5th December 2007: A day of Protest
Environmental activists invade the mining site demonstrating their support for our cause, and their opposition to the heavy investment in fossil fuel when the detrimental impact of such is so very well understood.
In a parallel protest, members of our group protested (in appalling weather) on the A4066 'Slip-road' roundabout opposite the site. A great deal of support was shown by passing traffic and many thanks to them all. Special thanks also to all those who stopped to make personal representation.
We were encouraged by the even handed representation we were dealt by the press and TV News reporters, who all attended the protest...but strangely with the exception of our local newspaper.
Wednesday, 14th November 2007 : Planning Revocation Meeting
The Merthyr Tydfil County Council sat at 17:00 today to vote on the revocation of the planning permission for Miller-Argent Mining to operate the Ffos-y-Fran Opencast mine. A letter had been written by Gareth Chapman, the councils legal officer to the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) rejecting the offer to revoke the planning permission and passing the responsibility for such back to the WAG.
With it being a large majority Labour controlled council there was very little question on which way the vote would go, but the way it proceeded stunned even the more hardened members amongst us!
Mr Harvey Jones, the head of the council, stated at the beginning of the meeting that he wanted it recorded that anyone voting for the revocation of the planning permission was supporting the bankrupting of Merthyr Council, and would be deemed to be showing contempt for the council. It would be an open vote and their names would be recorded.
With the thinly veiled threat that they would be dealt with severely after the event. It was obviously passed, with all Labour councillors voting to send the letter to the WAG, with the only opposition coming from the independent council members.
It was suggested that amendments to the permission be raised, e.g. protection of the nearest communities by implementing a 500M buffer zone. This suggestion was dismissed out-of-hand by Harvey Jones and Gareth Chapman. They said that any revocation or amendments to this planning permission would result in the bankrupting of Merthyr Council. So no pressure there then!
16th March 2005: Motion for a 500M Buffer Zone passed in Welsh Assembly
A very historic victory occurred today when our motion for a 500M buffer zone was passed in the Welsh Assembly despite the best efforts of the Labour run Welsh Assembly Government to scupper it.
This came about by meticulous planning and organisation by ourselves and representatives of all the opposition parties and independents. The Labour party vote was directed by party policy and they had to vote against the motion, but one Labour party member voted with his conscience, the late Peter Law, to swing the vote in our favour.
It has proved to be a pyrric victory though, as Westminster refuse to ratify the motion as it would spoil their plans for the maximum exploitation of Welsh coal supplies.