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| Protesters stop work at coal mine | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Demonstrators have chained themselves to excavation machinery at the site of an opencast coal mine near Merthyr Tydfil, stopping work. | Demonstrators have chained themselves to excavation machinery at the site of an opencast coal mine near Merthyr Tydfil, stopping work. |
| There are thought to be almost 40 protestors at the Ffos y Fran site. | |
| South Wales Police said protesters arrived at the site at around 0630 BST, and climbed on to machinery and also blocked one of the site entrances. | |
| Developer Miller Argent condemned the "irresponsible behaviour" and said lives had been potentially put at risk. | |
| Police say they are currently supervising the situation. It is the second time protests have halted work. | |
| Fifteen protestors are inside the site and a further five are on the roof of a site building. | |
| Trespass, potentially encouraging others to do the same, is not just irresponsible behaviour but a criminal offence Stephen Tillman, Miller Argent | |
| Another 10 are on a digger, four are chained to a gate at Cwmbargoed disposable point and four are lying across the road. | |
| At 1400 BST the protestors say they will be unfurling a 36m (118ft) long banner with the slogan "Coal Black Hole in UK Climate Policy". | |
| The demonstrators say they are highlighting the "hypocrisy" of government claims it is tackling climate change. | The demonstrators say they are highlighting the "hypocrisy" of government claims it is tackling climate change. |
| Residents have already protested about the mine which will become one of Europe's biggest opencast sites. | Residents have already protested about the mine which will become one of Europe's biggest opencast sites. |
| The Ffos-y-Fran site is near homes in Merthyr Tydfil | The Ffos-y-Fran site is near homes in Merthyr Tydfil |
| In an e-mail sent to the BBC, the protestors said they intended to remain on the site for "several days". | In an e-mail sent to the BBC, the protestors said they intended to remain on the site for "several days". |
| They said coal had the biggest impact on climate change of any fuel and that the government was "supporting an outdated and dangerous technology that has no future". | They said coal had the biggest impact on climate change of any fuel and that the government was "supporting an outdated and dangerous technology that has no future". |
| Residents have claimed there will not be enough protection from noise, dust and pollution from the site and AMs debated plans for a 500m (1,640ft) buffer zone between houses and new opencast mining developments last month. | Residents have claimed there will not be enough protection from noise, dust and pollution from the site and AMs debated plans for a 500m (1,640ft) buffer zone between houses and new opencast mining developments last month. |
| There has been anger that the opencast site had been allowed to go ahead with a buffer of just 40m (130ft) to the nearest homes. | There has been anger that the opencast site had been allowed to go ahead with a buffer of just 40m (130ft) to the nearest homes. |
| Opponents of the scheme previously halted preparation work at the site in December by "occupying" two large excavating machines. | Opponents of the scheme previously halted preparation work at the site in December by "occupying" two large excavating machines. |
| 'Extremely disappointed' | |
| Developer Miller Argent (South Wales) said as well as the break-in and seizure of heavy plant, police had also been told of an incident of suspected sabotage to a water treatment area last night. | |
| Stephen Tillman, of Miller Argent, said: "Our primary concern is for the safety of our workforce on site. The protesters have once again potentially put lives at risk, and not just their own." | |
| "Because this is a site of former quarries and coal workings we are uncovering former deep shafts and trespass, potentially encouraging others including local young people to do the same, is not just irresponsible behaviour but a criminal offence." | |
| Miller Argent said it had called on police for assistance and was considering what further actions to take. | |
| "We are extremely disappointed on behalf of our workforce and the people of Merthyr who want this reclamation to be completed, that protesters have tried to disrupt work once again." | |
| Ffos-y-Fran will mine 10m tonnes of coal over 17 years. | Ffos-y-Fran will mine 10m tonnes of coal over 17 years. |
| Friends of the Earth Cymru said residents had been "badly let down" by the planning process and "peaceful protest is an inevitable consequence." |