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Coal Tip Safety & Remediation
Is this devolved to Wales?
Devolved
The necessary powers are not reserved to the UK Parliament in Schedule 7A of the Government of Wales Act 2006.
Shared Powers
The Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority) is run at a UK level. Wales is responsible for land restoration relating to coal.
Not Devolved
The powers over this are reserved to the UK Parliament in Schedule 7A of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Specific Section/Number/Clause).
In 2025, the Senedd passed the Disused Mine & Quarry Tips Act.
During this term, the Disused Tips Authority will be established and headquartered in Merthyr Tydfil. It will be responsible for monitoring the stability and remediation of registered tips under to the law. It will also have the power to order landowners to undertake work to stabilise disused tips.
There have been concerns that some landowners will use remediation as an excuse to extract more coal. At least one such project has been touted near Bedwas, Caerphilly.
Remediation of coal tips is a particular sore point in Welsh politics due to the Aberfan disaster in 1966, which killed 144 people – mainly children.
During the last Senedd (2021-2026), there were growing concerns about the stability of disused coal tips following several severe storms. Some landslides were recorded, raising fears of a repeat of the Aberfan disaster given the threat of wetter winters driven by climate change.
This prompted the introduction of the new law, but it also raised issues about the Welsh Government’s powers in this area.
Previous and current UK governments argue the Welsh Government is responsible for remediation costs, as land restoration concerning coal is devolved. However, all of the coal tips are legacies from before devolution, and the Coal Authority (now the Mining Remediation Authority) – a UK Government agency – was responsible for overseeing disused tips.
The UK Government – while announcing at least £25 million towards it – has so far refused to fully cover the remediation costs, estimated to be up to £600 million.
The vast majority of the most dangerous coal tips are located in the constituencies highlighted above, though tips can be found throughout most of southern and north-east Wales.
Disused quarry/slate tips also fall under the 2025 Act, and many of these are located in Gwynedd.
60 jobs are set to be created at the Disused Tips Authority.
Local authorities with at least 100 disused coal tips (Spring 2026)
Coal tips by category (Spring 2026)
- Category A: Very unlikely to impact public safety.
- Category B: Unlikely to impact public safety.
- Category C: Potential to impact public safety;inspected at least once a year.
- Category D (most dangerous): Potential to impact public safety; inspected at least twice a year.
- Category R: Very unlikely potential to impact public safety. Potentially removed or levelled and often built over.
Costs & Economic Impact
Disused Coal Tip Remediation-
~100 million committed to date by the Welsh and UK governments
Who has raised this at the Senedd?
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS
First Minister
Llŷr Gruffydd MS
Rural Resilience & Sustainability Minister
Lis McLean MS
Co-Chair: Culture
Niamh Salkeld MS
Backbencher
David Hughes MS
Backbencher
Vikki Howells MS
Senedd Commissioner
Paul Rock MS
Backbencher
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS
First Minister
Llŷr Gruffydd MS
Rural Resilience & Sustainability Minister
Lis McLean MS
Co-Chair: Culture
Niamh Salkeld MS
Backbencher
David Hughes MS
Backbencher
Vikki Howells MS
Senedd Commissioner
Paul Rock MS
Backbencher
- Supports remediation
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Plaid Cymru backbenchers have shown support for remediation efforts and back the Welsh Government lobbying for the UK Government to fund the works in full.
- Supports remediation
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Reform UK have expressed support for remediation efforts.
- Supports remediation
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Labour MSs support remediation efforts, having introduced the Act in the previous Senedd term.
- Supports
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Conservative MSs haven’t said anything on this specifically yet.
- Supports remediation
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Green MSs support remediation efforts, but also want to prevent landowners using remediation as an excuse to extract more coal.
- Supports
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Jane Dodds hasn’t said anything on this specifically.
Who is responsible?
Llŷr Gruffydd MS
Rural Resilience & Sustainability Minister
What have ministers said?
What's being done about this?
The Welsh Government is overseeing the establishment of the Disused Tips Authority.
Plaid Cymru had a manifesto commitment to ensure every disused tip is monitored, maintained and remediated.
Both the First Minister and Environment Minister have said that they will lobby for the UK Government to cover the costs of this as a historic legacy of pre-devolution industrialisation.
Yes.
Draft regulations and guidance for the Disused Tips Authority – and how some of its functions will work in practice – went out for public consultation in June 2026.
Remediation of coal tips will be an ongoing process, though which tip is addressed and when will depend on its safety category and the number of inspections it will need.
What have the Senedd's Committees said?
Nothing has been discussed yet.
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Relevant Votes
Nothing to see yet.
Further Reading
- Senedd Research Service (25th April 2025). “The first steps towards a new regime for coal tip safety in Wales“
Related Issues
