Carmarthenshire Council Blocks Glan Lash Coal Mine Expansion, Citing Environmental Damage
Carmarthenshire Council has rejected the final outstanding proposal for opencast coal mining in the UK, refusing plans to excavate 85,000 tonnes of coal at the Glan Lash mine near Llandybie.
Environmental and Biodiversity Concerns Lead to Refusal
Bryn Bach Coal Ltd sought to extend the site over 10.3 hectares, projecting 11 new jobs. However, Rhodri Griffiths, the council's head of place and sustainability, stated in a decision notice that the proposals conflicted with several policies concerning biodiversity and the environment. Griffiths highlighted adverse effects on protected woodland and hedgerows, along with the "unacceptable disturbance, degradation and loss" of "irreplaceable peatland".
Concerns also centred on a local population of marsh fritillary butterflies, identified as one of the UK's most threatened species. This marks the second time the company's expansion plans have been refused since the mine closed in 2019; councillors previously rejected a revised proposal in 2023.
Campaigners Applaud Decision, End of Opencast Mining
Environmental groups have welcomed the decision. Jenny Lloyd of Friends of the Earth Cymru described the outcome as "great news", signifying the end of "Wales' last opencast coal mine" and presenting an opportunity for land remediation. Coal Action Network noted that there are now "no live applications for new coal mines" in the UK, interpreting the council's stance as a "clear, strategic commitment to climate leadership, rare habitat protection, and safeguarding the health of surrounding communities".
Bryn Bach Coal Ltd had previously argued for a "niche non-thermal market for premium quality anthracite", citing industrial demand for water filtration, battery production, and green steelmaking. The company now has six months to appeal the council's decision.
The UK's largest opencast coal mine, Ffos-y-Fran, closed in 2023 following a rejected extension application. While opencast operations cease, Wales retains one remaining deep mine at Aberpergwm, Neath Port Talbot.
