ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT

PROPOSED LAND RECLAMATION/COAL RECOVERY SCHEME

AT VARTEG HILL, TORFAEN

GLAMORGAN POWER COMPANY LIMITED

VOLUME 1: NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY

4339/ARM/caj
November 2014
Harmers Limited /

Harmers Limited

39 Lambourne Crescent
CardiffBusinessPark
Llanishen
Cardiff
CF14 5GG
Tele No: 029 2076 5454

Fax No: 029 2076 1536

EMAIL:
WEB SITE:
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Introduction

This Non-Technical Summary has been prepared in compliance with the requirements of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 and forms part of the Environmental Statement to accompany the planning application submitted to Torfaen County Borough Council (TCBC) by Glamorgan Power Company for permission to carry out a scheme of land reclamation and coal recovery at Varteg.
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1.4 / The planning application covers an area of 62 hectares and the proposal is to reclaim an extensive area of land containing spoil tips, the remains of former mine buildings and structures and numerous adits and shafts to former mine workings. A similar planning application was submitted to Torfaen County Borough Council in May 2004 which was refused by the Council in January 2011. The application was subject to appeal and following the Planning Inquiry the Planning Inspector recommended approval but was dismissed by the Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development on the 22nd November 2013. The Minister accepted that there is no dispute that the proposed development would remediate land damaged by shallow coal workings which is one of the exceptional factors identifies in paragraph 49 of MTAN 2 which may justify coal working within 500 metres of a settlement “where coal extraction appears to be the mostsustainable option”. However he was not prepared to accept the Planning Inspector’s view that, notwithstanding the failure to carry out a well structured evaluation of alternative options, over the life of the application and appeal this requirement had been adequately met and in order to assess whether coal extraction appears to be the most sustainable option he expected that other options would have been identified and submitted in evidence. This ES therefore includes a systematic identification and analysis of alternative options for carrying out the land reclamation scheme. The Minister was also concerned that should planning permission be granted there should be a legal agreement in place to ensure that funding is available to complete the restoration works if the developer fails to complete the works. A Section 106 Agreement will be entered into with the Council to ensure that this concern is overcome.
The applicant requested a scoping opinion form the Council which identified several alternative options for carrying out the land reclamation scheme. The Scoping Opinion issued by the Council identified further options and all have been analysed in the ES together with all of the other issues identified in the Scoping Opinion.
The ES consists of the following documents :-
Volume 1- Non Technical Summary
Volume 2- Text
Volume 3- Technical Information
Supporting Documents :-
Varteg Hill Reclamation and Coal Recovery Scheme Blaenavon South Wales Hydrogeological and Contaminated Land Assessment, Interpretative Report,
AECOM, October 2014.
VartegHillLand Reclamation/Coal Recovery ,Health Impact Assessment,
ERM ,Final Report March 2009.
Proposed Coal Recovery/ Land Reclamation Scheme, Varteg Hill,Torfaen, Restoration Plan, Cooper Partnership, May 2009.
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/ The documents appended to this Summary comprise a 1:25000 scale Ordnance Survey extract showing the location of the site, the planning application site plan (4339-01), the sitelayout plan (GPC/VTEG/01 Rev B) and the restoration plan proposals from the (Figure 11 from the Coopers Restoration Plan).
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Site Description
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The application site comprises 62 ha (153 acres) of land at Varteg Hill, roughly three miles north of Pontypool and one and half miles south of Blaenavon. The site occupies a relatively elevated position on the western side of the AfonLlwydValley just above Varteg Road (B4246). The locality has a long industrial history and evidence of former mining and industrial activities are still to be seen at and around the application site. The associated pattern of village development has changed significantly over the years and much of the former housing has been cleared. Remnants remain in the form of Salisbury and Pembroke Terraces and a former chapel (now a Community Centre), Bryn Onnen primary school, a play area, public house and a row of dwellings on the opposite side of Varteg Road.
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Varteg Road north from Varteg Hill contours the mountainside before dropping down into Blaenavon. Varteg Road south from the site serves as the through route for the urban villages of Varteg, Garndiffiath and Talywain.
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The application site is irregular in shape and comprises two main sections. The eastern section is bounded on its eastern side by Varteg Road except where the boundary cuts back around Salisbury Terrace and Pembroke Terrace and the fields which adjoin them to the south. This part of the site comprises a mix of open and enclosed fields and areas of rough grazing, spoil tips which are still largely bare and prominent to view from the houses below and from Varteg Road, and the remains of former mine buildings and structures. The other, western section of the application site consists of a shallow valley to the north of where the track turns to the west. This valley was formed in association with previous opencast operations.
The access road into the site past the service reservoir is a private road; it continues on through the site to Blaenmelyn Farm and the upper reaches of the Nant Ffrwd. There are a number of public footpaths within the site.
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The Development Proposals
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Glamorgan Power Companyproposes a scheme of land reclamation/coal recovery at Varteg Hill which would improve the character and appearance of the landscape, remove health and safety risks, improve public access to the land and provide improved habitats for nature conservation. The coal seams below the eastern part of the site are of high calorific value and it is proposed to remove 256,000 tonnes of coal which will provide the necessary finance to fund the land reclamation works.
The proposals for the site are set out on the site layout plan (Drawing no.GPC/VTEG/01 Rev.B) which is attached to this document and the phasing plans ( GPC/VTEG/02-05 Revs A) and the Sections Plan (GPC/VTEG/06 Rev B) which are included in Item 1 of ES Volume 3.
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Within the eastern part of the site, a wedge shaped area covering 11. 6 hectaresis the maximum area proposed for coal extraction, the coal being worked in a series of cuts moving from south to north with progressive restoration of the excavated areas. There will be areas for the storage of topsoil and subsoil and two overburden storage areas with the eastern overburden being temporary and having a maximum height of 388m AOD. These features together with the locations of the site office, parking wheel-washing weighbridge and the two water treatment areas are also shown on the site layout plan.
The scheme envisages the extraction of 256,000 tonnes of coal, the total period of operations lasting about 44 months which would be followeda period of managed aftercare. Up to 2,500 tonnes of coal (i.e. 125 lorry loads) would be excavated each week and would travel north towards Blaenavon and the Heads of the Valleys Road. There would be no blasting with coal and overburden being recovered mechanically. Site operations would be based on the use of excavators and loaders and ancillary plant. The coal would be loaded directly onto lorries for processing off-site; there would be no processing of coal on-site.
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The existing access road will be improved and used to serve the development proposals and a new access would be provided for Blaenmelyn Farm.
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The site would be securely fenced and would be manned by 24 hour security personnel while it is operational.
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The scheme is anticipated to employ around 26 people. Working hours would be 0700 to 1900 Monday to Friday and 0700 to 1300 on Saturdays. Coal hauling would be carried out between 0700 to 1800 hours Monday to Friday and 0700 to 1300 on Saturdays. There would be no working on Sundays or public holidays.
Phase 1
Phase 1 will take approximately 10 months and will begin with the following enabling works which will take approximately 3 months:-
  • fencing, construction of the site access;
  • construction of the office ,welfare, parking area wheel wash and weighbridge;
  • the construction of the 2 water treatment areas;
  • diversion or protection of utilities and ;
  • the stripping and storage of soils.
After the completion of the enabling works the main overburden excavation would commence with the haulage and ancillary plant on site. The material excavated at this stage would be hauled to the eastern overburden mound and the volume of material to form a screening bund will be approximately 250,000m3which will take approximately
13 weeks to complete.
After the eastern screening mound is complete work would start on the filling of the MynyddFachValley where 350,000m3will be deposited. Once tipping is complete, soils previously recovered from this area would be re-spread and the site would be restored and ready for aftercare.
Phase 1 would be complete after the completion of the tipping in the western valley. The box-cut would be complete and coaling would be at the rate of 2,000-2500 tonnes per week.
Phase 2
Phase 2 has a total operational period of 10 months. Excavation progresses in a northerly direction with overburden haulage split between the eastern overburden storage mound and within the void to progressively back fill the advancing void. Once the backfill area is up to the base of the restored soils level the area would be spread with soils and /or soil forming material and ready for restoration.
By the end of cut 2 the eastern overburden mound would be complete with a total volume of 750,000m3. The site would be subject to progressive restoration works after the completion of the overburden mounds with the material in subsequent cuts tipped into the previous “coaled out” cut .
Phase 3
Phase 3 has a total operational period of approximately 12 months. Throughout this phase, the excavation of material would remain within the working void and haulage of material other than the coal would remain within the working void.A substantial portion of the eastern dump would remain to screen the working void. This phase would continue right up to the completion of coaling in the final void at the northern limit of the excavation area.
Phase 4
Phase 4 has a total operational period of approximately 12 months. During this phase the remaining overburden in the eastern overburden dump would be returned to the final void. Topsoil, subsoil, and soil forming materials would be placed to achieve the restoration profile with progressive rehabilitation extending to the north.After the removal of the eastern overburden the area would be restored with re-soiling taking place in preparation for its rehabilitation. On completion of all the restoration works the site amenity area, plant yard, wheel wash and weighbridge would be removed and these areas restored.
A range of environmental protection measures would be taken including:
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Visual amenity – the eastern baffle mound would screen activity within the extraction void from the local residents in Varteg.
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Dust – the baffle mound would reduce dust emissions; dust suppression measures would be used as a matter of routine and a monitoring regime would be put in place.

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Noise – noise levels would be strictly controlled; noise suppression measures include the formation of baffle mounds and the use of modern plant and techniques.

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Drainage – a drainage system has been designed to ensure the collection and treatment (where necessary) of run-off and ground water.

/ Slope stability – the design of the western back wall has been subject to a slope stability analysis.

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Public safety – the site would be securely fenced and patrolled. Footpaths through the site would be temporarily closed but would be reinstated as part of the restoration scheme.

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Highway safety – the traffic assessment demonstrates that the proposed development would not have an unacceptable impact on highway interests including pedestrian safety.

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Ecological interests – the site has been subject to many surveys over a considerable period the recommendations of Hawkeswood Ecology have been incorporated into the proposals and the restoration plan.

/ Archaeology – a detailed assessment of the site has been undertaken by CgMs on the known archaeological interest of the site and concludes that the overall impact on the historic environment is not considered such that it would preclude development.
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Detailed restoration proposals have been produced which envisage the site being used for grazing and for informal public recreation. The western section of the site would be restored to common land. The landscaping scheme for the eastern part of the site envisages a mosaic of habitats to provide a visually attractive area with pockets of rich ecological interest. Public rights of way through the site would be reinstated as soon as practicable.

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The applicants recognise that the scheme will cause some disturbance to local residents but point out that the scheme offers significant long term benefits, namely:

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the removal of industrial dereliction close to existing and proposed housing areas

/ improvements to the character and appearance of the landscape

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the removal of health and safety risks

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improve public access to land

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Consideration of Alternatives

The purpose of this section of the ES is to identify and analyse alternative options for carrying out the land reclamation some of which involve no coal extraction and others involving coal extraction in alternative locations. Various alternatives were suggested to the Council in the request for the scoping opinion and in the Scoping Opinion the Council suggested an additional three alternatives for consideration.
Before considering the alternatives consideration has been given to “do nothing”. It is considered that such an approach would not provide the benefits of the scheme which have been agreed by the Planning Inspector and the Ministers for Housing and Regeneration which are :
  • improvement to the character and appearance of the landscape;
  • the removal of health and safety risks;
  • the improvement of public access to the land
  • the provision of improved habitats for nature conservation:
  • the substantial contribution towards encouraging regeneration of the local and surrounding area:
  • some immediate economic benefit and encouragement to wider economic benefit and;
  • a small but useful contribution to the supply of coal.

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4.3 / Concerns were raised in the Scoping Opinion that insufficient consideration has been given to the impact of the scheme on the historic landscape, the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site (BILWHS) and the historical value of the features to be lost. Section 13 of the ES provides a detailed assessment of the impact of the scheme on the known archaeological interest and suggests a series of measures as mitigation including a detailed archaeological survey and recording of the surviving heritage assets.
Consideration has been given to the following alternatives:-
(i)Re-profiling the tips

This alternative would be aimed solely at addressing the health and safety risks by making the tips safe without any major excavation works so there would be no coal extraction. Re-profiling would not deliver the main objective of the scheme of remediating and restoring the land and the accompanying benefits recognised by the Ministers for Housing and Regeneration.

(ii)Land reclamation of the site including the removal of the tips and fill and cap/seal off shafts without coal recovery.
Glamorgan Power have estimated that the cost of land reclamation would be a minimum of £1.1m and without extracting any coal there is no incentive for Glamorgan Power to carry out the works and there is no prospect of public money being made available. In addition it would not be possible to carry out a full reclamation scheme without removing the coal from the underground workings.
(iii)Coal recovery off site to subsidise the land reclamation scheme.

Consideration has been given to the extraction of coal from an area to the west of the application site area which is more than 500 m from the houses at Varteg.This would extend the site much further into the BILWHS requiring additional areas of common land and with the deepening of the coal seams and substantial depth of overburden would create much more disturbance. There would still be a requirement to carry out the land reclamation scheme which would create an element of disturbance and as with (ii)it would not be possible to carry out a full reclamation scheme without removing the coal from the underground workings.