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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Assembly set for opencast appeal | Assembly set for opencast appeal |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Welsh assembly is to start its appeal against a High Court decision which halted plans for one of Europe's biggest opencast sites. | |
| It won the right to a hearing at the Court of Appeal after a judge quashed a decision to allow the coal operation at Ffos y Fran, Merthyr Tydfil. | It won the right to a hearing at the Court of Appeal after a judge quashed a decision to allow the coal operation at Ffos y Fran, Merthyr Tydfil. |
| There has been a long-running dispute over plans to extract 10 million tonnes of coal there over 15 years. | There has been a long-running dispute over plans to extract 10 million tonnes of coal there over 15 years. |
| The case in London is expected to last for four days. | The case in London is expected to last for four days. |
| The judgement in December 2005 followed a claim that Welsh Planning Minister Carwyn Jones had already decided to back the scheme before an assembly planning committee meeting was held. | The judgement in December 2005 followed a claim that Welsh Planning Minister Carwyn Jones had already decided to back the scheme before an assembly planning committee meeting was held. |
| 'Fly-tipping' | 'Fly-tipping' |
| Mr Jones denied the allegation and said at the time that he was "disappointed" at not being given the opportunity to state that in court. | Mr Jones denied the allegation and said at the time that he was "disappointed" at not being given the opportunity to state that in court. |
| He was also cleared of any misconduct by the independent commissioner for standards. | He was also cleared of any misconduct by the independent commissioner for standards. |
| The proposals involve long-term reclamation of an old derelict site | The proposals involve long-term reclamation of an old derelict site |
| The High Court judge, Mr Justice Lindsay, said it was possible Mr Jones had been "biased" in favour of the scheme and told the assembly to reconsider. | |
| But the assembly claimed the judge had reached the wrong conclusion and were granted an appeal. | |
| Opponents in Merthyr Tydfil had claimed they would suffer from noise, dust and vibration problems if opencast was allowed, with plans to extract 20,000 tonnes of coal each week. | Opponents in Merthyr Tydfil had claimed they would suffer from noise, dust and vibration problems if opencast was allowed, with plans to extract 20,000 tonnes of coal each week. |
| Miller Argent (South Wales) Ltd had earlier received permission from the assembly planning committee. | Miller Argent (South Wales) Ltd had earlier received permission from the assembly planning committee. |
| It claimed it would create 200 jobs and transform 1,000 acres of a derelict industrial wasteland after reclamation. | It claimed it would create 200 jobs and transform 1,000 acres of a derelict industrial wasteland after reclamation. |
| The developer said the site had suffered from fly-tipping and burnt-out cars being dumped there. | The developer said the site had suffered from fly-tipping and burnt-out cars being dumped there. |
| A planning inspector concluded there was no evidence to back up "sincerely held" worries over health and the environment. | A planning inspector concluded there was no evidence to back up "sincerely held" worries over health and the environment. |