Environmental and economic legacy of Wales' industrial past - our response
Read Friends of the Earth response to the Welsh Affairs Committee's call for evidence
- Communities in Wales, who helped create the wealth that powered the UK in the past, have benefited little from it, yet are still paying a hefty price.
- The UK government has an obligation to pay for the remediation of dangerous post-industrial sites in Wales that predate devolution – this includes toxic waste dumps as well as coal tips.
- There is a huge disparity between the amount of funding UK government has committed so far to remediate dangerous coal tips in Wales (£25m) and what is required to keep communities and wildlife safe (£600m).
- Companies must not be allowed to fill this gap and implement ‘solutions’ based on financial gain that could compromise safety and welfare.
- Without sufficient UK government funding, another dangerous coal mining industry could emerge in Wales, which would be disastrous for people and planet and the UK’s reputation.
- An independent inquiry is urgently needed to assess the scale and impact of contaminated land in Wales and the effectiveness of the current legislation.
- Recent research by Friends of the Earth Cymru shows significant inconsistencies and gaps in the current contaminated land legislation, which would benefit from the Committee’s attention.
- The remediation of ex-industrial sites could provide opportunities for employment to help our green and fair transition and enhance biodiversity.
- The UK government’s growth mission must have just transition at its centre.