Agenda item

18/1070/REM Nant Helen Surface Mine, Coelbren, Neath

Minutes:

Grid Ref:                   283050.34 211312.71        

 

Valid Date:               03/12/2018   

 

Officer:                      Hugh Towns

 

Community Council: Tawe Uchaf Community Council

 

Applicant:                 Celtic Energy Ltd     

 

Location:                  Nant Helen Surface Mine, Coelbren, Neath

 

Proposal:                  Variation of condition 2 of planning approval P/2011/0217 to allow an extension of time to allow extraction of all the coal and completion of restoration.       

 

Application Type:  Variation of Condition        

 

Mrs A Manser-Davies spoke against the application.

 

The Minerals Officer advised that if the Committee was minded to approve the application it was recommended that it be delegated to the Professional Lead Development Management to add the relevant policies to the reasons for the conditions.  In addition, it was also recommended that if the Committee was minded to approve the application, it be delegated to the Professional Lead Development Management that the previous S106 agreement, which safeguards appropriate restoration and aftercare, be reviewed and a revised S106 agreement completed within three months  unless the Professional Lead for Development Management is satisfied that the delay is unavoidable and agrees to a further reasonable time period. If the agreement is not concluded within that time frame the application is to be refused or brought back to the Committee.

 

In response to questions the Mineral Officer advised that it was estimated that 800,000 tonnes of coal was available for extraction and that this would take approximately of three years to extract.  It was noted that condition 1 specified the timeframe for extraction.  The Minerals Officer noted the comments made by the objector and the Committee regarding the monitoring of dust and noise.  He advised that his team regularly visited the site to ensure that conditions were adhered to and dust and noise levels were monitored.  However, as the extraction site was proposed to move further east and closer to residential areas and the school, he advised he would review the location of monitoring sites and would also look to speak to the objector.   The Minerals Officer also advised that noise levels were restricted outside normal working hours and stated that if these were exceeded the issue would be investigated and steps be taken to mitigate or stop whatever was the source of the noise.

 

In response to questions the Minerals Officer advised that the phased restoration and phased use of the bond could be conditioned.

 

RESOLVED:

Reason for decision:

that the application be granted consent, subject to the conditions set out in the report which is filed with the signed minutes and it be delegated to the Professional Lead Development Management to add the planning policies to the reasons for the conditions and that it be delegated to the Professional Lead Development Management that the previous S106 agreement, which safeguards appropriate restoration and aftercare, be reviewed and  a revised S106 agreement completed within three months, unless the Professional Lead for Development Management is satisfied that the delay is unavoidable and agrees to a further reasonable time period to complete the agreement. If the agreement is not concluded within that time frame delegation is given to the Professional Lead for Development Management to refuse the application or take the application back to the Committee for determination.

 

As officers recommendation as set out in the report which is filed with the signed minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To ensure the appropriate restoration and aftercare of the site.

 

The Chair changed the order of the agenda, to accommodate speakers and the public.

 

County Councillor H Hulme moved to the public seating area for the next application.

 

 

 

Supporting documents: