STAY AWAY
We live next to ‘toxic eyesore’ that’s a MASSIVE danger & risk to children’s lives – but it’ll cost £100MILLION to fix
Fuming homeowners have hit out at the kid 'magnet'
OUTRAGED locals have slammed a dangerous and "toxic eyesore" that poses risk to children - and costs £100million to fix.
Homeowners living on the doorstep of Ffos-y-Fran opencast mine, in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, have blasted the site amid safety fears as the summer holiday kicks off.
5
5
5
Concerning footage of the area, owned by Merthyr (South Wales) Limited, sparked fury among residents after they noticed a "potentially deadly" lake sitting below a sharp drop.
The mining pit was closed down in November last year and has since been filling with "dangerous" and "contaminated" rainwater.
Local Eddy Blanche, who released the images on social media, wrote: "With the school holidays happening next week. I ask all parents to warn your children of the dangers of going to the opencast.
"This will be the first year when it is not operational and kids will have a chance to wander over there with little, if any, security.
Read More
"If a child was to lose their footing and fall there is a good chance it will end in a fatality. Please please keep your kids safe."
Other fuming homeowners hit out over an alleged land slippage, however MSW denied this has happened.
Meanwhile Merthyr Tydfil council said restoration and repair work on site could have created the illusion of a land slip.
Alyson Austin, 60, told she is "really, really angry" about the ongoing battle.
Most read in The Sun
"It's something we pointed out back when we were aware that the pumps would be turned off: that the site is loose and steep and the water is toxic," she fumed.
"You have this huge element of danger."
UK's 'biggest man cave' is FINALLY being torn down as work begins to demolish millionaire's 'eyesore' leisure complex
The outraged campaigner also claimed the council only opted for an open cast mine, as opposed to a safer alternative, due to lack of funds.
"Now we are left with this dangerous structure which is an absolutely real risk to life, children being young will not even think about the dangers," she added.
Meanwhile, partner Chris, 69, claimed no one has seen "much security" across the site since it closed.
He said the kid "magnet" has already attracted youngsters on quadbikes, who were left free to explore the area.
But, MSW officials insist there are routine safety checks carried out by maintenance teams.
The pair have fought to see the former mine, dubbed an "eyesore", blocked off and restored back into countryside.
However, plans to transform the site into an area for residential and recreational use were halted at the Senedd's climate change committee on May 2.
It was revealed the council would have to fork out up to an impossible £125million from their £15million budget to completely renovate the mine.
During another meeting earlier this year, Plaid Cymru MS Delyth Jewell pressed officials on whether the water-filled pit would pose a "risk to the public health and risk of death".
At present, MSW is devising another restoration plan within budget to the council.
Statement from MSW in full
A SPOKESMAN for Merthyr (South Wales) Limited (MSW) said:
"Since the cessation of the mining operation in November 2023, Merthyr (South Wales) Limited continues to manage the Ffos-y Fran site to comply with Health and Safety Executive guidelines under The Quarries Regulations 1999.
"Post closure of the mining operation the company selected personnel with some combined 250 years of surface mining experience to form the core of the sites C&M (care and maintenance) team.
"The C&M team are responsible for routinely monitoring all safety and environmental aspects of the site, including water levels and water quality.
"The C&;M team complete daily checks of the water quality to ensure the water discharges are within consent limits set by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
"This is supported with a quarterly water testing programme agreed with NRW.
"Water samples are tested by an accredited laboratory for a comprehensive suite of determinants.
"Results indicate there are no determinants that raise a cause for concern to the water environment.
"All analytical data is either submitted to NRW or made available for inspection on routine site visits at their request.
"Ground Water levels under the guidance of a consultant hydrogeologist, are being monitored on a regular basis, within the mine and are reviewed with NRW and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (MTCBC).
"Following one of the wettest winters on record ground water levels have stabilised around the levels monitored prior to commencing mining operations on the site.
"Recent trend indicates a fall in water levels, this will be monitored throughout the summer months to establish if there is, as anticipated, a seasonal change in the ground water level, within the range previously monitored.
"Therefore, ground water levels remain some 200 feet (60 metres) below the lowest natural ground level located to the north of the site.
"Following consultation MSW have reached a formal agreement with MTCBC to commence an interim restoration programme of works for the site, which commenced in May 2024.
"MSW have engaged the services of several external consultants, specialists in their field, to prepare a revised restoration plan.
"MSW continues to discuss with MTCBC and all relevant key stakeholders progress on the revised restoration plan.
"Therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment further until the revised restoration plan has been finalised and submitted to MTCBC for their consideration."
A statement from Merthyr Tydfil council said: "We have been in contact with Merthyr (South Wales) Limited who have confirmed that no slip has occurred.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"They do, however, have vehicles onsite undertaking some works involving the movement of material which forms part the restoration of the site (in accordance with the previously approved scheme), which could give the appearance of a slip.
"An independent Geotechnical Engineer has recently inspected the site and there are no concerns around its stability or safety."
5
5
Topics