A quarrying issue in a Welsh village has stirred up a significant amount of concern and unity among residents. Children as young as four have been expressing worries about the safety of their school due to the impact of nearby quarrying activities. The residents of Glyncoch in Rhondda Cynon Taf marched to the council offices in Pontypridd to voice their opposition to the operations at Craig yr Hesg quarry, citing health risks and potential property damage as major concerns.
The quarry, which was supposed to cease operations in 2022, saw its owner, Heidelberg Materials, apply for a six-year extension. Despite Rhondda Cynon Taf Council planners rejecting the extension in 2022 following a significant number of objections related to the effects of blasting on residents’ health, the decision was overturned by Welsh Government ministers in October 2022. Ian Gibson, a resident actively involved in campaigning on the issue, highlighted the numerous demonstrations, debates, and meetings with the council to address the community’s worries.
Residents like Ian Gibson are calling for a review of the outdated regulations surrounding quarries and demanding modernized measures that prioritize the protection of residents living in close proximity to these sites. Concerns about potential home damage from blasting, air quality impacts, and the loss of amenity land at Craig yr Hesg are at the forefront of the community’s protests. The concept of a 1,000m buffer zone was discussed in the Senedd but narrowly missed approval by four votes, despite garnering substantial public support.
Chris Whiles, another resident actively involved in the campaign, emphasized the widespread concern among residents, particularly parents of young children attending a school located just 109m away from the quarry. With unsettling questions from children about the safety of their school buildings and ongoing worries about the impact of quarrying activities on the community’s well-being, the rallying cry for action and reassurance is strong among residents.
The approval of the quarry’s expansion by the Welsh government has intensified the frustration and challenges faced by the Glyncoch community, especially in the aftermath of flooding incidents that have further highlighted the potential risks associated with the quarry’s operations. The lack of comprehensive risk assessments and seemingly rushed decision-making processes have fueled residents’ determination to continue their campaign for greater accountability and transparency in quarrying activities.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council recognizes the ongoing concerns raised by the community and has committed to monitoring the conditions imposed on the quarry’s planning permission to ensure compliance with environmental standards. The enforcement of environmental permits and rigorous air quality monitoring are among the measures undertaken to address the community’s apprehensions. However, the resolute residents of Glyncoch remain steadfast in their quest for safeguarding their community’s health, well-being, and future, pushing for a more stringent approach to regulatory oversight in the face of the quarrying challenges they are confronting.