IT IS now more than two years since Torfaen council rejected an application by Glamorgan Power to opencast for coal at Varteg, within 200 metres of houses and a primary school.

Their reason for this was that Welsh Government policy includes a presumption against open casting within 500 metres of houses and schools. Glamorgan Power appealed and last January their appeal was considered at a two-week hearing. The inspector’s report arrived at the minister’s desk within a few weeks and has stayed there ever since. The delay over the final decision has caused considerable local concern and a drop in the number of pupils registered at the primary school. One wonders what is the point of appointing an Inspector if nothing is done about his report.

The civil servants who are scrutinising it, have no higher qualifications to consider the issues than the inspector. Alternatively, if the minister is about to accept the inspector’s report, why is he now paying his officers to scrutinise the inspector’s report behind closed doors? What is the point of a Welsh Government policy against open casting within 500 metres if £100,000s have to be spent considering such an appeal?

John Cox (Dr.) Torfaen