11. MINERALS

Part 1

11.1. Justification of Part 1 Policies

11.1.1. The County Borough has a long tradition of mineral working and provides a significant part of the region’s production of energy and aggregate minerals together with substantial quantities of non-aggregate materials for use in industrial processes. It is considered that adequate provision for such mineral extraction should be made to ensure that the County Borough will be able to maintain its current contribution to regional demand.

11.1.2. The policies in Part 2 will provide guidance on the conditions that will be imposed on future mineral proposals to ensure that they are environmentally acceptable during active operations and that restoration is undertaken at the earliest opportunity to facilitate a beneficial after-use.

11.1.3. As regards provision for aggregates, the County Borough’s share of regional production will be calculated on the basis of the average of the last three years production figures as production can fluctuate significantly from one year to another. This calculation will indicate whether existing permitted or allocated reserves are adequate or whether additional resources will need to be allocated in the light of regional forecasts of future demand produced by Government or the South Wales Regional Aggregates Working Party guidelines. The provision for non-aggregate and energy minerals is more difficult to determine and depends on a number of factors, such as the demand for the products for which the industrial limestone is required and the future national energy policy.

11.1.4. A sustainable minerals strategy should ensure that mineral resources are used efficiently and that reserves likely to be suitable for future working will not be sterilised by other permanent development. Policy 15 will help to ensure that resources will be conserved by consideration of the use of other materials such as marine dredged aggregates, secondary and recycled materials, provided that the implications of using such resources are fully investigated and considered to be environmentally acceptable.

11.1.5. Mineral resources are plentiful in the County Borough although the extraction of certain resources are unacceptable, such as, the extraction of sand and gravel deposits in the coastal area. Policy 16 will help to ensure that limestone resources likely to be required for aggregates or industrial purposes will be safeguarded for future working by resisting permanent development on or near those resources. Opencast coal resources will not be safeguarded because of the lack of available information about the economic viability of working different parts of the South Wales Coalfield and the uncertainty of the industry about future working areas. There has been only limited interest in extracting sandstone from within the County Borough and it would be unreasonable to safeguard the sandstone resources where there is little likelihood of mineral working in the foreseeable future. These resources will be protected in effect by other policies in the Unitary Development Plan which resist major new development in the countryside. Proposals for the working of minerals, which are not safeguarded for future working in the Plan, will be considered in relation to criteria set out in Part 2 policies to guide the determination of future development proposals.

Part 2

11.2. Introduction

11.2.1. Minerals are important natural resources and their exploitation makes a significant contribution to the nation’s prosperity and quality of life. It is essential to the national, regional and local economy that there is an adequate and steady supply of minerals.

11.2.2. Energy minerals such as coal, gas and oil are needed to generate power and home production of these minerals reduces the requirement to import the materials. Aggregates are bulk materials including crushed rock, sand and gravel which are needed for construction and are the pre-requisite for the building and infrastructure that society needs. Many industries need minerals to provide basic raw materials, for example, limestone is used in cement manufacture and in steel making processes. Minerals extraction generates ancillary industries, such as, brick and block manufacture and ready-mix concrete plant.

11.2.3. Planning for minerals has to recognise certain special characteristics: extraction sites are limited by the availability of materials depending on the geology of the area; mineral working often takes place over a long period of time but is not a permanent land use; working often has an adverse environmental impact on the surrounding community, and at the completion of operations restoration and after-care are needed to prevent dereliction.

11.2.4. A strategy for minerals planning is guided by central government policy and advice contained in Minerals Planning Guidance Notes (MPGs). Recent revisions of policy guidance to reflect sustainable issues and the increasing public concern about the impact of mineral development on the environment have been issued for England only. As an exception, a draft revised MPG 3: Coal Mining and Colliery Spoil Disposal was published for consultation purposes in December 1998. This, however, has now been superseded by the issue of Mineral Planning Policy-Wales.

11.3. Minerals in the County Borough

11.3.1. Within the County Borough, limestone outcrops in the southern half of the area and sandstone in the coal measures to the north of Aberkenfig with sand and gravel deposits in the coastal zone.

11.3.2. Active limestone quarries at Cornelly, Gaens and Grove near South Cornelly form the largest concentration of active quarrying in South Wales producing about 1.75 million tonnes per year of aggregates and high quality limestone for steel manufacture. There is a sandstone quarry at Cefn Cribbwr which operates intermittently and a dormant quarry at Stormy Down. Coal is extracted at Park Slip West by opencast operations. All of the small mines in the area have ceased working. Since 1998, there has been a growing interest in the exploitation of coalbed methane, although no exploration operations have been implemented as yet.

11.3.3. The recycling of materials as a substitute for primary aggregates is undertaken within Cornelly Quarry and a site for recycling demolition materials has been approved adjacent to Gaens/Pantmawr Quarries but is not yet operational.

11.4. Non-Energy Minerals - Aggregates

11.4.1. Limestone: Limestone resources provide the majority of aggregates supply in the County Borough. Surveys of production and reserves of aggregates sites are undertaken each year by the South Wales Regional Aggregates Working Party, and this data is used to determine the landbank by relating the current reserves to the average of the latest three years production. The most recent information is for 2002 but confidentiality prevents its release.

TABLE MIN.1
CRUSHED ROCK PRODUCTION AND RESERVES (1997-1999 (million tonnes)

Source: SWRAWP ANNUAL SURVEYS 1995-97

11.4.2. Table MIN 1 indicates that there appears to be sufficient reserves to satisfy recent levels of production of aggregates for the plan period and for many years beyond. Part of these reserves, however, are required for non-aggregate purposes. If half of the reserves are assumed to be non-aggregate reserves, the landbank of aggregates is reduced to approximately 15 years. Furthermore, part of the reserves are located in areas where it is considered that no more extraction should take place, and therefore, it is necessary to allocate land for extensions to active quarries to replace these reserves. It is not considered to be necessary for new quarries to be permitted in order to maintain aggregate supplies.

11.4.3. Sandstone: The Pennant Sandstone of the Upper Coal Measures in the northern part of the County Borough has been assessed as having significant development potential for use as High Specification Aggregates (HSA) because of its natural durability and suitability as road surfacing materials with high levels of skidding resistance. The current policy for a more sustainable transport policy has resulted in reduced road construction with a consequent decrease in demand for HSA materials. There have been no proposals to extract sandstone in the County Borough for this purpose in recent years. At the present time, it is considered that there is no evidence of any demand for HSA material in the County Borough, and therefore, no sites are allocated in the plan. If demand should change in the future, there are sufficient resources in the County Borough to review the need to safeguard land for future extraction and these areas are unlikely to be sterilised permanently because of other policies which protect against development in rural areas. Temporary permission was granted to commence extraction of blockstone from stockpiles at Darren-y- Bannau Quarry, near Caerau, for use in the Caerau Colliery reclamation scheme but this has now expired. Cefn Cribbwr Quarry operates intermittently to produce sandstone for crushing for silica sand but does not produce HSA material.

11.4.4. Sand and Gravel: There is very little land-won sand and gravel extraction in South East Wales. Nearly 85% of regional demand for sand and gravel for construction is met from marine dredged operations in the Bristol Channel, significantly from Nash Bank, off the Porthcawl coast. Recent research and policy reports advise that reliance on this source should be reduced in the next 5-10 years to avoid any significant adverse impact on the Bridgend coastline. The resources of sand and gravel within the County Borough are located in the coastal area which is protected by environmental designations where any applications for extraction would be the subject of rigorous examination. Licences for extraction are issued by the Crown Estate, provided the National Assembly for Wales has given a favourable ‘Government View’. Concern has been expressed about a possible link between dredging for aggregates and coastal changes which are monitored as part of the conditions of the dredging licences. These issues are considered in policies relating to the coastal zone and are addressed in Policy EV15.

11.4.5. Secondary/Recycled Materials: The potential sources of secondary materials in the County Borough are limited to mineral waste including colliery spoil, town ash, power station ash from the former Llynfi Power Station, road plannings and waste from construction and demolition sites. Government policy encourages the increased use of these materials in order to reduce demand for primary materials and minimise the landfill of waste. This policy is fully supported but at the present time it is acknowledged that the overall impact of alternative materials on demand for aggregates is limited but further research is being carried out to fully investigate this issue. Most colliery tips have been restored in the County Borough and it may be unacceptable to extract material unless significant environmental improvements would be achieved. Secondary materials have been imported from outside the County Borough for construction projects including the highway improvements at Heol-y-Splott, South Cornelly, which used slag from Port Talbot Steelworks as a surfacing material. Policies are included to identify sources of material which may be suitable for recycling and for the provision of sites for aggregates recycling which would assist the use of construction and demolition wastes.

11.5. Non-Energy Minerals - Non Aggregates

11.5.1. Approximately half of the crushed rock produced in the County Borough is processed to provide fluxing stone for steel manufacture at the British Steel Works at Port Talbot, mainly from Cornelly Quarry. It is of national importance to maintain supplies of high purity limestone of the required quality for the industrial market.

11.6. Energy Minerals - Coal

11.6.1. Half of the County Borough, north of the line between Cefn Cribbwr, Sarn and Pencoed, lies within the South Wales Coalfield. Considerable areas of the County Borough have been worked historically by opencast and deep coal mining operations. Deep mining has now ceased, including all small mines, although one is awaiting final restoration. Opencast mining is being undertaken currently at Park Slip West where operations are moving westward into Neath Port Talbot County Borough. Major investment is proposed in the new Margam Drift Mine which will be constructed in the vicinity of the extension of opencast working within Neath Port Talbot County Borough. Part of the underground take and part of the surface area containing the overburden mounds will remain in Bridgend County Borough during the life of the Mine.

11.6.2. Mineral Planning Guidance (MPG 3) (1998) [applicable in England only] states that areas where coal extraction is likely to be acceptable should be indicated in the Unitary Development Plan. The Welsh Mineral Planning Guidance also endorses such an approach. The coal industry has been unable, however, to provide a forward programme of sites to assist mineral planning authorities with their development plans. The recent research project, “Mineral Resource Information for Development Plans South Wales” undertaken by the British Geological Survey for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, defined two resource zones within which coals of potential economic interest may occur. The primary zone forms the main target for opencast extraction relating to a closely spaced succession of thick coals while the secondary zone represents coals which are generally thinner and less concentrated in vertical or area distribution but are nevertheless an important resource. Within the primary zone in the County Borough, nearly all the area has been already worked or is sterilised by major development. The Fernbank site, to the north of Pencoed, is the only remaining area in the primary zone and is also the subject of a Coal Authority licence. This land has recently been sold off by the mineral operator/landowner and any future opencast mining is considered remote. Planning permission has not been granted for working and there is likely to be strong environmental objections to any proposal for opencast coal extraction in this area. Within the secondary zone, again much of the land has been previously worked or is developed except for certain areas in the Llynfi and Ogmore and Garw Valleys. There are no known proposals or existing licences in these areas except for land at St Johns Colliery, Maesteg, where no suitable vehicular access is currently available. No coal extraction is anticipated in this area within the plan period.

11.7. Energy Minerals - Oil and Gas

11.7.1. Government policy encourages exploration for and production of oil and gas reserves to achieve the maximum economic exploitation of the resources consistent with good practice and the protection of the environment. Until the last two years, it appeared unlikely that the development of on-shore oil or gas reserves would have any impact on the County Borough. A number of applications have been approved recently for exploratory boreholes for coalbed methane in the Brynmenyn, Bryncethin and Wern Tarw areas but no exploration has been undertaken to date.

11.8. Mineral Exploration

11.8.1. MINERAL EXPLORATION

POLICY M1

PROPOSALS TO CARRY OUT MINERAL EXPLORATION WILL BE PERMITTED UNLESS THERE WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT, RESIDENTIAL AMENITY OR OTHER SENSITIVE LAND USES.

11.8.2. Planning legislation enables certain small scale and temporary mineral exploration to be undertaken as permitted development provided that trees are not damaged and that sites are restored as far as practicable to their former state. Longer periods are allowed but only if prior notification is given to the Council. When proposals for mineral exploration are being considered, the Council will seek to ensure that there will be no adverse effects on residential amenity or other sensitive land uses such as schools, hostels and hospitals.

11.8.3. Any permissions granted to carry out mineral exploration does not carry any presumption in favour of permitting any subsequent development to exploit the reserves found as a result of that exploration.

11.9. Future Development - General

11.9.1. MINERAL EXTRACTION CRITERIA

11.9.2. Minerals extraction can have an adverse impact on the environment and other land uses. Although the individual characteristics of mineral workings may vary, there are many common factors which need to be considered in assessing proposals for mineral operations. Policy M2 will be used to assess proposals for new development and applications to review existing planning consents, both initial and for periodic reviews.

11.10. Landbanks

11.10.1. MAINTENANCE OF APPROPRIATE LANDBANKS

POLICY M3

A LANDBANK OF PERMITTED RESERVES OF CRUSHED ROCK FOR AGGREGATES WILL BE MAINTAINED DURING THE LIFE OF THE PLAN AND FOR 10 YEARS BEYOND 2016 TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE COUNTY BOROUGH’S SHARE OF REGIONAL AGGREGATES PRODUCTION.

11.10.2. The County Borough currently produces about 7% of the South Wales region’s total crushed rock sales for the aggregates market. As explained in 11.4.1. there are sufficient reserves with permission to continue the current level of production for the next 40 years but part of these reserves will be needed for non-aggregate production and other areas may not be suitable for further development.

11.10.3. It should be noted that individual authorities need to contribute to the regional landbank for SE Wales where they have appropriate resources and there is a proven need.

11.11. Future Development - Safeguarded Areas

11.11.1. CONSERVING LIMESTONE FOR FUTURE USE

POLICY M4

LAND SHOWN ON THE PROPOSALS MAP, WILL BE SAFEGUARDED FROM ALL PERMANENT BUILDING DEVELOPMENT FOR FUTURE LIMESTONE EXTRACTION AS FOLLOWS:-

M4(1)  EAST OF CORNELLY QUARRY AT STORMY AIRFIELD; (Link to Map 26 West)
M4(2)  NORTH EAST OF CORNELLY QUARRY INTO THE CAR DISMANTLERS YARD; AND (Link to Map 25 East)
M4(3)  EAST OF GAENS QUARRY. (Link to Map 25)

11.11.2. Extensions to Cornelly Quarry are needed to ensure that long term reserves of high purity limestone will be available for steel manufacture. All reserves of stone at Cornelly have potential use as aggregates but only certain areas have stone suitable for use as fluxing stone. The extent of reserves to be released at any time will depend on the output prevailing at the time or proven future output levels, together with an assessment of reserves already permitted. There are reserves already permitted at Gaens and Cornelly where it would be undesirable for further working to take place because of the proximity of dwellings and where extraction of deeper reserves may adversely affect groundwater systems and water supplies. Additional reserves may be released to replace permitted areas where no further working should be undertaken. An extension of Cornelly Quarry into the former Airfield will require the diversion of Mount Pleasant Road around the future working area.

11.12. Future Development - Areas of Search

11.12.1. FUTURE MINERAL EXTRACTION

POLICY M5

AREAS OF SEARCH AS SHOWN ON THE PROPOSALS MAP WILL BE SAFEGUARDED FROM ALL PERMANENT BUILDING DEVELOPMENT
SO THAT RESOURCES MAY BE PRESERVED FOR THE FUTURE SHOULD A DEMONSTRABLE NEED BE PROVEN AT:-

M5(1)  LAND TO THE NORTH OF CORNELLY QUARRY AND TO THE EAST OF GAENS QUARRY; AND (Link to Map 25 East)
M5(2)  LAND AT THE FORMER STORMY DOWN QUARRY.  (Link to Map 25 East)

11.12.2. It should be stressed that there is no presumption in favour of release of any land within the areas of search for mineral extraction at the present time. It is not yet known whether there will be a need to release any of the land within the areas of search for future limestone extraction or whether all of the land shown will prove to be acceptable for mineral working. The land to the north of Cornelly Quarry is confined by woodland which is protected by Tree Preservation Orders and it will be necessary to maintain an open area of land between future quarrying and the woodland to prevent any adverse effects caused by mineral extraction. It is considered necessary, however, to safeguard these areas to prevent sterilisation by permanent development if the need for additional land should arise in the future.

11.13. Sand and Gravel

11.13.1. EXTRACTION OF LAND-WON SAND & GRAVEL

POLICY M6

PROPOSALS FOR LAND-WON SAND AND GRAVEL WILL BE EXAMINED AGAINST CRITERIA IN POLICY M2. EXTRACTION IN STATUTORY DESIGNATED AREAS WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, FOLLOWING THE MOST RIGOROUS EXAMINATION OF THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND SCOPE FOR MITIGATION.

11.13.2. The demand for fine aggregates is likely to be met by continued marine dredging from the Bristol Channel. In view of increasing concern about the implications for continued dredging because of a possible link with coastal changes, there may be a need to consider land-won extraction of sand and gravel to maintain supplies for construction purposes. There would be objections to the working of known resources near the coast of the County Borough where those resources that have not been sterilised by development are the subject of statutory designated areas i.e. Kenfig NNR and Merthyr Mawr SSSI.

11.14. Borrow Pits

11.14.1. TEMPORARY MINERAL EXTRACTION

POLICY M7

PROPOSALS FOR BORROW PITS WILL BE CONSIDERED AGAINST THE CRITERIA IN POLICY M2 AND ALSO IN RELATION TO THE NEEDS OF PARTICULAR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, THE LIFE OF THE EXCAVATION AND PROPOSALS FOR RESTORATION.

11.14.2. A ‘Borrow Pit’ is a temporary quarry or similar site opened to supply aggregate minerals to a particular construction project, usually highway contracts over a limited period. These sites are usually located within or adjacent to the project, and the mineral is supplied direct without using public roads. The mineral can be supplied, therefore, at low cost and with minimum disturbance to road users. The impact of the borrow pit can be similar to more permanent quarries and have a significant impact on neighbouring land uses although over a shorter period.

11.15. Mineral Working Deposits

11.15.1. EXTRACTION OF MATERIAL FROM MINERAL WORKING DEPOSITS

POLICY M8

PROPOSALS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF MATERIAL FROM MINERAL WORKING DEPOSITS WILL BE PERMITTED ONLY WHERE THEY ARE ACCEPTABLE IN RELATION TO CRITERIA IN POLICY M2 AND WHERE THE PROPOSAL MAINTAINS OR IMPROVES TIP SAFETY.

11.15.2. Spoil tips from old mineral workings sometimes contain economically workable deposits of material. There may be quantities of small coal which can be recovered by screening/washing the tip material whereas other tips can provide large quantities of secondary aggregates which could substitute for primary materials and conserve resources. The extraction of some mineral working deposits may be deemed permitted development subject to the provisions of Part 23 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995.

11.16. Alternative Materials

11.16.1. ENCOURAGING THE RE-USE OF MINERALS

POLICY M9

PROPOSALS FOR FACILITIES TO RECYCLE MATERIALS WHICH WOULD SUBSTITUTE FOR PRIMARY AGGREGATES WILL BE PERMITTED WHERE THEY ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ACCEPTABLE HAVING ASSESSED THE DEVELOPMENT AGAINST CRITERIA IN POLICY M2.

11.16.2. Construction and demolition materials are often recycled as part of a new construction project and re-used on site. Considerable quantities of such material are, however, disposed of to landfill sites because there are inadequate local facilities to process the waste products. It is important that suitable facilities are established to encourage further re-use of this material in order to achieve the minimisation of waste.

11.17. Environmental Protection and Improvement

11.17.1. CONDITIONS TO PROTECT & IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT

POLICY M10

WHEN GRANTING OR REVIEWING PLANNING PERMISSION FOR MINERAL DEVELOPMENT, WHERE NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE TO THE DEVELOPMENT, THE MINERAL PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL IMPOSE CONDITIONS AND/OR AGREE SECTION 106 OBLIGATIONS TO:-

1. VARY THE DURATION OF THE PERMISSION;

2. REGULATE THE HOURS OF WORKING OF THE OPERATION;

3. IDENTIFY MEASURES TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND CONTROL TRAFFIC MOVEMENTS;

4. REQUIRE OPERATIONS TO BE DESIGNED TO MITIGATE NOISE LEVELS TO SPECIFIED LIMITS;

5. REQUIRE THE MONITORING OF BLASTING OPERATIONS, TO CONTROL BLASTING OPERATIONS TO SPECIFIED TIMES OF THE WORKING DAY AND TO LIMIT THE EFFECTS OF VIBRATION IN RELATION TO SENSITIVE DEVELOPMENT;

6. MINIMISE THE IMPACT OF DUST;

7. REQUIRE THE MONITORING OF THE IMPACT OF WORKINGS ON GROUNDWATER RESOURCES AND MAKE PROVISION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER FEATURES;

8. REQUIRE AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE SITE AND ENSURE THAT FEATURES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL OR HISTORIC INTEREST ARE RECORDED AND, IF NECESSARY, PROTECTED AND PRESERVED IN SITU;

9. REQUIRE LANDSCAPE WORKS OR OTHER SCREENING OPERATIONS TO REDUCE THE VISUAL IMPACT OF THE OPERATIONS TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL; AND

10. PROVIDE APPROPRIATE RESTORATION, LAND USE AND AFTERCARE TO SECURE LONG TERM BENEFIT PARTICULARLY FOR NATURE CONSERVATION INTERESTS.

11. REQUIRE A DETAILED EVALUATION OF THE NATURE CONSERVATION VALUE OF THE SITE. WHERE NECESSARY, MEASURES WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANY HABITATS, SPECIES OR FEATURES OF INTEREST, OR MITIGATION MEASURES, AS APPROPRIATE.

11.17.2. There are a number of issues which need to be addressed in determining applications for mineral development in order to ensure that the development will not have an adverse impact on surrounding areas, particularly if there are residential properties in close proximity to the site. Planning legislation contains a provision that all mineral review sites which enjoy the benefit of a planning permission which is not time limited, will automatically expire in 2042 but there may be instances where a shorter time period is essential to enable an otherwise unacceptable proposal to proceed. It is important to control issues, such as, visual impact, hours of working, noise, dust and vibration from mineral working in order to protect the amenity of the surrounding area. Traffic generation from mineral workings can have a significant impact on other land uses both in the immediate vicinity and over a wide distance from the site as some minerals are transported considerable distances from their source. The carboniferous limestone in the County Borough is a most important aquifer and mineral extraction can have a significant effect on it, particularly if deeper workings below the groundwater table are exploited. The advice of the Environment Agency will be considered in order to assess the future impact of deeper and lateral extensions of mineral operations and proposed water treatment facilities. The possible effect of future mineral development on known sites of archaeological and historic interest should be taken into account so that the need to record or, where necessary, preserve sites can be decided when the proposal is determined. Lastly, it is important to maximise the opportunity that mineral working creates to achieve long term beneficial after-use and aftercare. Mineral sites are often very large and the nature of operations can provide important habitat creation consistent with the Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Bridgend.

11.18. Mineral Protection Zones

11.18.1. PROTECTION OF LOCAL AMENITY

POLICY M11

MINERAL PROTECTION ZONES ARE IDENTIFIED AROUND EXISTING QUARRIES TOGETHER WITH CONSENTED RESERVES AND LAND ALLOCATED FOR FUTURE WORKING AS SHOWN ON THE PROPOSALS MAP. WITHIN THESE ZONES, NEW DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING MINERAL DEVELOPMENT WILL BE RESTRICTED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT CURRENT AND FUTURE MINERAL DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT BE INHIBITED BY ITS IMPACT ON NEW DEVELOPMENT. PROPOSALS FOR DEVELOPMENT OTHER THAN MINERALS WITHIN THE ZONE WILL TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF QUARRYING ON THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED AND A MINIMUM BUFFER OF AT LEAST 200 METRES WILL BE SECURED BETWEEN QUARRYING OPERATIONS AND SENSITIVE LAND USES, UNLESS SITE CHARACTERISTICS LEAD THE COUNCIL TO DETERMINE OTHERWISE.

11.18.2. Mineral working can have an adverse impact on the amenity of sensitive land uses, such as, residential development, hospitals, hostels and schools. Mineral Protection Zones have been identified around existing quarries and their future working areas to prevent conflict between mineral working and other land uses by providing a buffer around active and future quarrying areas. In some instances, there is existing residential development already located within the Mineral Protection Zones. It would be unreasonable and difficult to resist infilling development within built up areas even though there may be some effect from quarrying operations. The Council will, however, judge each case on its merits. In all other cases, the Council will seek to secure a buffer of at least 200 metres between new development and mineral operations.

11.19. Retention of Land

11.19.1. RETENTION & CONTROL OF LAND

POLICY M12

THE COUNCIL WILL SEEK TO SECURE THE RETENTION OF IDENTIFIED EXISTING TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES AS SHOWN ON THE PROPOSALS MAP THAT SCREEN MINERAL OPERATIONS. IT IS, HOWEVER, RECOGNISED THAT THE IDENTIFIED AREAS ENJOY PLANNING PERMISSION FOR QUARRYING, AND ANY RELINQUISHMENT OF THE RIGHT TO WORK THE RESPECTIVE AREAS WOULD NEED TO BE WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE OPERATORS. THE IDENTIFIED AREAS ARE:-

M12(1)  LAND ALONG HEOL-Y-SPLOTT; (Link to Map 25)
M12(2)  LAND ADJACENT TO MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD; (Link to Map 25)
M12(3)  LAND TO THE SOUTH WEST OF GROVE QUARRY; (Link to Map 25)
M12(4)  LAND TO THE NORTH OF MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD ADJACENT TO GROVE QUARRY; (Link to Map 25)
M12(5)  LAND FORMING THE SOUTHERN AND EASTERN RIM OF GAENS QUARRY; AND (Link to Map 25)
M12(6)  LAND FORMING THE EASTERN PART OF STORMY DOWN QUARRY. (Link to Map 26 West)

11.19.2. Some of the land permitted for quarrying many years ago is considered to be unsuitable for further working because they are located close to residential properties or provide a screen to existing working areas. Some of the land the subject of historical permissions are currently being updated with new planning conditions, as part of a review of old mineral permissions required by the Environment Act 1995. That exercise will impose modern up-to-date planning conditions which will control future quarrying operations. In addition, the Mineral Planning Authority may seek additional agreements as part of planning applications for additional mineral extraction on currently unpermitted land (reference UDP policies M4/5) which would seek the agreement of operators to relinquish the right to work defined areas, and consider the replacement of reserves in more suitable locations, as identified in policies M4/5.

11.19.3. It is acknowledged that the strip of land to the west of Mount Pleasant road between Cornelly Quarry and the former Stormy Down Airfield could only be retained if proposals to extend the quarry into the former airfield do not proceed. In addition, it is recognised that the strip of land along Heol-y-Splott between Cornelly Quarry and Pant Mawr Quarry could only be retained if Cornelly Quarry does not extend laterally into Pant Mawr. In the event of such an expansion, the need for screening from Heol-y-Splott would be unnecessary, as the existing potential viewpoints would be removed.

11.20. Restoration and Aftercare

11.20.1. SECURING HIGH QUALITY & PROMPT RESTORATION & AFTERCARE

POLICY M13

WHEN GRANTING OR REVIEWING PERMISSION FOR MINERAL WORKING, THE MINERAL PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL REQUIRE A SCHEME TO BE SUBMITTED TO SECURE HIGH QUALITY, PROMPT AND WHEREVER POSSIBLE, PHASED RESTORATION AND AFTERCARE AND TO PROVIDE FOR A BENEFICIAL AFTER-USE OF THE SITE CONSISTENT WITH THE LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN. WHERE DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE COUNCIL, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH RELEVANT CONSULTEES, AN EXTENDED AFTERCARE PERIOD BEYOND THE STATUTORY 5 YEARS WILL BE REQUIRED PARTICULARLY FOR SUCH AFTER-USE AS NATURE CONSERVATION.

11.20.2. Mineral working is a temporary operation even though sites may be active for long periods. One of the most important aims of minerals control is to ensure that the land used for mineral working will be restored once operations have ceased and that the reclaimed land is capable of beneficial use. The location and size of the final excavation will often dictate the end use to which the site may be put. In view of the long life of some sites, it is not always easy to determine the future after-use at the outset of working and schemes of working may need to be revised as the operation proceeds. A statement of broad objectives for enduse or a restoration strategy does not give sufficient detail on which to base decisions on progressive restoration including the cost to the operator. Experience has shown that operators frequently underestimate the full cost of restoration and aftercare and consequently it is important that as much detail as possible should be incorporated in proposals at the outset. In the event that site circumstances change significantly, a formal variation can always be sought.

11.20.3. Careful stripping and storage of soils will always assist restoration and such operations needs to be strictly controlled including the retention of features, such as, existing trees and hedgerows. It is essential that developers are able to demonstrate that they have adequate control of the land which is the subject of an application. Without such control, there is no guarantee that long term benefits from restoration can be realised.

11.20.4. Where deemed appropriate by the Council, financial guarantees may be sought from operators to cover the cost of restoration and aftercare in the event of default by the operator. Such guarantees will normally be required for coal related development only, unless particular circumstances dictate otherwise.

11.21. Future development

11.21.1. Conserving land-won sand and gravel

POLICY M14

SAFEGUARDING AREAS ARE IDENTIFIED ON THE PROPOSALS MAP AS POTENTIAL RESOURCES OF SAND AND GRAVEL. PROPOSALS FOR PERMANENT DEVELOPMENT WITHIN ANY PART OF THESE AREAS WILL BE STRONGLY RESISTED. THE RESOURCES ARE LOCATED AS FOLLOWS:-

M14(1)  SOUTH OF SOUTH CORNELLY (Link to Map 25)
M14(2)  MERTHYR MAWR (Link to Map 31 Central)
M14(3)   ISLAND FARM, BRIDGEND (Link to Map 27 Central)
M14(5)  EAST OF PENCOED (Link to Map 23 West)

11.21.2. The purpose of the Policy is to protect the areas from permanent development that would sterilise or hinder the extraction of the potential mineral resources if the need for the resources should be proven. It does not indicate an acceptance of the working of any of the sites identified. This Policy should be read in association with Policy M6.

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