£80 million fund enables welsh coal tips to start vital work £80 million fund enables welsh coal tips to start vital work Max Taylor – Journalist Over 400 coal tips in Wales are now able to deliver essential maintenance work and larger projects thanks to funding from a new multi-year grant scheme Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister, has announced that local authorities and Natural Resources Wales are now in a position to produce works that range from minor maintenance to larger works. Combining this grant with the UK government’s commitment of £143 million over the course of three years, a total of over £230 million has been delegated to coal tip safety in Wales.  10 local authorities as well as National Resources Wales will receive funding until the end of 2029/30 financial year for projects on tip sites.  These include Pen Yr Englyn which will receive £3.8 million, Nant Yr Odon which is set to receive the highest in £7 million and more in Torfaen and Rhondda Cynon Taf.  The Welsh Local Government Association are also running a pilot environmental engineering placement scheme which has provided six placements across local authorities so far.  This scheme provides work experience in flood risk management and remediation work at mines.  Irranca-Davies said: “This record investment marks a significant milestone in our commitment to coal tip safety. The multiyear approach is something I have long called for – it gives the certainty that local authorities and Natural Resources Wales need to plan and deliver bigger and more complex remediation projects. “This investment does more than make our communities safer. It is huge investment in coalfield communities, growing the economy and creating jobs in many of the places that need them most. “Wales once developed mining expertise that was exported throughout the world – now we have the opportunity to lead again, this time in dealing with our mining legacy during a climate emergency.” Anthony Hunt, Torfaen Council Leader Councillor said: “This investment is great news – it will help to us realise our ambitions to improve safety at the site, which is valued by the local community. The project will also have wider benefits in terms of protecting important biodiversity and alleviating the risk of flooding in the local area. “A lot of towns in Wales grew up around the coal mining industry and it’s right that these communities are protected for future generations. This is a welcome sign of all levels of Government working together to achieve that aim.” Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.  Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials Linkedin X Instagram TikTok Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts