AN APPLICATION to mine 256,000 tonnes of coal in Torfaen should be rejected according to an environmental charity.

Friends of the Earth Cymru claim that the application submitted by Glamorgan Power fails to comply with planning policy and that the council should refuse permission.

Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, Gareth Clubb said: “This is a very damaging proposal. At a time when governments around the world are expressing the utmost concern about climate change, this proposal pours petrol on the flames.

“Planning law requires them to make the coal extraction carbon neutral - we haven’t been able to find any commitment of the sort from Glamorgan Power. Nor has the company even mentioned an air pollutant which is strictly limited by the European Union as from 1 January 2015.

“The plans are shambolic and must be rejected,” he added.

The managing director of Glamorgan Power Company, Bernard Llewellyn confirmed that the company submitted the application with changes made to address issues which saw it rejected previously.

Torfaen council will be looking at determination in the New Year.

Individuals who spoke publicly on the issue previously were invited via letter to register their objection by December 16.

But Members of the Varteg Hill Land Reclamation Liaison Group are concerned that the closing date was too soon.

But a Torfaen council spokesman outlined that the date of December 16 for the submission of comments is the minimum statutory period and that the council will considered consultation replies right up to the date of determination. As yet there is no date set for this.

In November 2013, the minister for housing and regeneration, Mr Sargeant, refused to grant outline planning permission for the scheme.

The minister thought the application was ‘environmentally acceptable’, despite school children being taught only 120 metres from the proposed mine and houses being within 500 metres.

However he did not accept that the benefits of the scheme justified working within 500m of the settlement.

Another reason for refusal was in regard to the unilateral undertaking, and the minister said there was insufficient detail to satisfy him that funding would be available to complete the restoration should the developer fail to do so.

Torfaen council refused the application in 2011 due to its proximity to houses which led to the 2012 inquiry.