PLANS for a controversial opencast mine in Torfaen are on hold following a decision by the developer to make key changes to the proposal.

Bernard Llewellyn managing director of mining firm Glamorgan Power, which submitted the plan for Varteg, said the changes could include taking the mine further away from the village and regulating the noise and dust further.

He said: “We’re reviewing the planning application to take it 250 metres further away from the Salisbury Terrace. We’re also looking into regulating the noise and the dust.

“We want to get it right. If it’s going to be granted it’s going to be right, and we’re taking resident’s concerns into account.

“Hopefully increasing the distance between the site and the town will make a few more people happy.”

But spokeswoman for No To the Varteg Opencast campaign, Rev Priscilla Pearson said the battle would go on.

“I think that’s a victory for us because we’ve made them stop and think and it’ll be interesting to see what they change," she said.

“They probably have picked up that their chances of getting it through the Council are low.

“Our campaign has been built around the Assembly’s guidelines of a 500m buffer zone between the opencast mining and any settlement and because Salisbury Terrace and the school are still under 500 meters away even with the proposed changes it doesn’t alter our stance at all - any modified application would still be bad for Varteg and beyond.

A Torfaen council spokesman said: “Glamorgan Power has informed the council that it will be reviewing its planning application. It will therefore not be reported to council on June 29. If an amended application is submitted it will require a further round of consultation before it can be considered by members.”