WORK has begun to save one of Gwent's most valuable industrial heritage sites after contractors were appointed to clean up and secure the land around Crumlin Navigational Colliery.

The Prince’s Regeneration Trust (PRT) has appointed engineering and contracting specialists Hydrock to carry out the first phase of work to kick-start the regeneration of the historic colliery.

The site, built between 1907 and 1911, contains 11 listed buildings that are in the top 10 most endangered Victorian and Edwardian buildings in Wales and England, according to the Victorian Society.

It was sold to its current owner Carmarthenshire Building Preservation Trust (CBPT) for just £1 by Pontypool Estates in the summer of 2011.

PRT, in association with friends group Glofa Navigation Cyf and Caerphilly County Borough Council, aims to adapt the buildings for community use.

Hydrock will begin by investigating and tackling any flooding and contamination risks, which will involve removing water and sludge from the Colliery’s fan drift, a Grade II* listed structure.

The team will also tackle pollution rising from the former mineshaft and secure the site by repairing a large pipe, or culvert, beneath the main access road which is on the brink of collapsing.

The urgent works, which are due to be completed by the end of August, have been funded by a £250,000 grant from the Welsh Government.

Ros Kerslake, chief executive of The Prince’s Regeneration Trust, said: “Crumlin Navigational Colliery is one of the most valuable industrial heritage sites in Wales.

“PRT has been supporting the work of the CBPT and Glofa on this vital project for many years now and it is very exciting to see work finally progressing.

“This work will allow a sustainable and beneficial community use to be found for the site’s many listed buildings.

“We are yet to work out what the final plans for the Colliery are, but without this vital remediation work, there would be no hope of the site ever being reoccupied.”

Dr Mike Higgins, managing director of land remediation at Hydrock, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the restoration of a site that is such an important part of the heritage of Wales. To ensure these buildings can be adapted for a range of new uses to benefit the community, we will be carrying out vital work to address pollution of the site and to make it structurally sound.”

By the end of the year, it is hoped that there will be clear plans for the future of the colliery, which will allow PRT to begin a funding application.