Cilfynydd’s Albion Colliery Lower Tip Scheme is set to move to the planning phase as work continues.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council are now pleased to announce that they will shortly be in a position to submit a formal planning application, which will outline the proposed necessary works that will be undertaken to further secure the site. Following this both the Council and Capita Symonds (Project team) will look to appoint a specialist drilling expert to carry out the proposed works.
Following the appointment by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council of engineering consultants Capita Symonds last autumn various work has been undertaken to prepare the contract for the proposed drainage works and assist with procuring the appropriate specialist contractor to undertake any future schemes.
Detailed ecology surveys of the area have also been carried out as well as looking at the amount of water discharged from the existing drainage to nearby streams and rivers.
As part of the project pupils from Cilfynydd Primary School have also been collecting rainfall data using a rain gauge provided by the project team. Additionally, an engineer from Capita Symonds has helped the children to make their own rain gauges from recyclable materials and provided background information of the project to the pupils. Further visits to the school are planned in order to involve the children in the scheme.
Albion Lower Tip Reclamation Scheme has already received £450,000 of grant funding from the Welsh Assembly Government to take the project through this design and development stage.
The scheme was introduced to reduce the long term threat from instability of the tip to the local area – which is situated to the east of the village of Cilfynydd.
The Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Safer Communities Cllr Paul Cannon said: “A great deal of excellent work has already been done to stabilize the lower tip owing to drainage measures successfully introduced on the site.
“The Council is pleased that we are now in a position to move forward to the planning stage so that we can drive the project forward to ensure a positive outcome for the benefit of local residents. We hope they will support our aspirations for the site as the design and development phase of the project begins its final phases.
