COAL mining will be allowed to re-start at the Nant Helen Surface Mine near Ystradgynlais.

The application by Celtic Energy, to extend mining up to December 31, 2021 and restoration work to be finished by June 2023, has been approved by Powys County Council’s planning committee.

This will protect around 100 jobs for an extra three years.

Mining at Nant Helen was supposed to stop on December 31, 2018.

The site had been mothballed by Celtic Energy in October 2016 due to a loss in demand for its coal.

Another mine of Celtic Energy’s, East Pit near Brynamman is coming to the end of it’s productive life.

Celtic Energy want to re-start the mining operation at Nant Helen to fulfil its existing contracts which is for around 400,000 tonnes of coal a year.

It is estimated that Nant Helen has around 800,000 tonnes of coal left.

This will be used at Port Talbot’s Tata steel works and contracts it has at Immingham in England, and Belgium.

Mrs Mansel-Davies, who spoke against the proposal, believed that the company should not be allowed to re-start mining as it had been: “their decision to mothball the site.”

Mrs Mansel-Davies, said: “Since the mine was mothballed our quality of life has improved significantly as we no longer had the mine negatively impacting on our lives.”

She said that dust and sound had disappeared, but now it was returning and getting worse as the mine moved closer to residents’ homes.

Mrs Mansel-Davies added: “I note that the The Welsh Government and Planning Policy Wales have said planning permission for open cast or deep mine development should not be permitted.

“As the application is new, I think it should fall under this criteria and be rejected.”

Cllr Roger Williams (Liberal Democrat – Felinfach), said: “I think what the people who live there are concerned about, is that the process is continuing.

“There is this expectation that all this will come to an end and now another application to extend the work will be disappointing.

“After this comes to an end. Is this the end?

“Can we ensure that all work is carried out in the agreed time scale and it’s restored and that will be the end of it.”

Hugh Towns, regional mineral and waste planning manager answered: “In discussions we had with Celtic Energy, the indication is they would need an extension for two years and three months in order to complete the coaling period.

“What we suggested to them to put (an application) in for two years and three months and then come back for an extra nine months later on, might not be a great idea.”

Mr Towns said that the suggestson was made to Celtic Energy: “Why not put in for three years now.

“So that everyone knows where they are and that hopefully the development will be completed in two years and three months.

“But we have tried to put a bit of a backstop on it as there may be changes we don’t know about.”

The motion to approve the application was moved by Cllr Francesca Jump (Liberal Democrat – Welshpool Gungrog) and was passed.