Wales Proposes Authority for Disused Tips

The Welsh Government has introduced the Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Bill, which aims to establish a new authority responsible for managing disused coal and non-coal tips across Wales. This legislation, described as 'world leading,' follows recent landslides, including a significant incident in Tylorstown that deposited over 60,000 tonnes of debris into the Rhondda Fach River. The proposed Disused Tips Authority will oversee the assessment, registration, monitoring, and management of these tips to ensure public safety. Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies emphasized the necessity of a structured approach to mitigate risks associated with disused tips, highlighting painful memories of the Aberfan disaster. The move comes after the Law Commission's report indicated that existing laws fail to provide an effective management framework for disused tips. With an estimated 2,573 disused coal tips in Wales, the bill represents a critical step toward improving community safety.