In remembering Aberfan on the 60th anniversary of the disaster this week, Plaid Cymru Members of the Senedd for Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr have urged the UK Government to fund coal tip safety in Wales to protect communities today.
On 21 October 1966, an avalanche of coal waste and slurry swept down the mountainside above the village, engulfing Pantglas Junior School and nearby homes. The National Coal Board had been tipping waste from Merthyr Vale Colliery on Merthyr Mountain for decades and despite longstanding concerns from local residents, one of the spoil tips had been built on ground fed by natural springs.
A total of 116 children and 28 adults lost their lives as a consequence. The Aberfan disaster remains one of the darkest days in the history of Wales.
While the tragedy was unique, the threat posed by disused coal tips has never entirely disappeared. Today, there remain almost 2,500 disused coal tips across Wales. In recent years, communities such as Tylorstown and Cwmtillery have witnessed incidents highlighting the ongoing risks posed by extreme weather and unstable spoil heaps.
In 2020, it was estimated that the cost of coal tips remediation in Wales was £600m.
In a joint statement, Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan MS, Lis McLean MS and Sara Crowley MS are calling on the UK Government to ensure that sufficient funding is made available to make coal tips safe in Wales and protect communities.
Heledd Fychan MS said:
“We can never forget the tragedy of Aberfan. It has had a lasting impact on the community of Aberfan, on Merthyr Tydfil, and on Wales as a whole.
“Remembering Aberfan is not just about reflecting on the past. Alongside our words of remembrance, we must see meaningful action to ensure communities are protected.”
Sara Crowley MS said:
“There is a responsibility to ensure coal tip safety remains a priority.
“Communities across Pontypridd, Cynon and Merthyr should not have to live with the fear that a similar disaster could happen again.
“The risks are well known and pre-date devolution. The UK Government must continue to invest meaningfully in protecting communities and addressing the legacy of former industrial activity.”
Lis McLean added:
“That is why, as local Plaid Cymru Members of the Senedd, we’re calling on the UK Government to ensure coal tip safety remains a national priority.
“We want to see the funding required to remediate and secure coal tips across the South Wales Valleys, giving communities the peace of mind they deserve.
“It is simply not fair that communities continue to worry about what might happen next while the necessary long-term investment is yet to be delivered.”
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