CAMPAIGNERS have expressed disappointment that the Welsh Government’s response to a vote in favour of a moratorium on opencast mining was to convene a summit.

Friend of the Earth Cymru said the Welsh Government’s response is a “huge missed opportunity”.

The summit with opencast companies will be held on Thursday.

Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, Gareth Clubb, said: “The Welsh Government has confirmed to us that a moratorium is not open for discussion at the summit. Yet this was the specific goal of the motion approved by the National Assembly.

“The Welsh Government’s failure to secure a moratorium is in direct contravention of the democratic will of the people of Wales.

Earlier this year, Torfaen AM, Lynne Neagle, called for a halt on new and current opencast applications like the controversial one on Varteg Hill, between Abersychan and Blaenavon.

Ms Neagle has been fighting plans from mine operator Glamorgan Power which wants to extract 256,000 tonnes of coal from a site on Varteg Hill.

She said: “Although I’m obviously disappointed that the Welsh Government has chosen not to pursue the opencast moratorium I first called for back in January – I’m pleased at least that the overwhelming backing those calls received from colleagues in the Assembly has helped ensure that opencast in Wales remains at the forefront of the political agenda.

“In terms of the summit itself, I’ve written to the Minister to make it clear that I felt there should have been more opportunity for the voice of communities affected by opencast to be heard.

"There will be representatives from campaign groups in attendance, as well as representatives of the local authority.”

Natural Resources Minister Carl Sargeant said he would be convening a summit to develop a distinctive Welsh deal on opencast mining.

He highlighted the need to find a way forward that takes proper account of the needs of local communities, the protection of Wales’s landscapes and the jobs the industry provides.