A week after plans for a controversial mine in Varteg were rejected by Torfaen Council local residents have been telling the Free Press what the decision means to them. Jessica Gibb reports GLAMORGAN Power's application to mine an estimated 325,000 tonnes of coal from Varteg Hill over almost five years was refused at a full council meeting on January 18 in line with Torfaen planners' recommendation.

John Gale, 67, of Sebastopol has been celebrating the news with his daughter Liz Enriquez, 40, who lives on Pembroke Terrace in Varteg with her daughter Angharad, 4.

Mr Gale said: "We were really over the moon from the family's point of view because of the health concerns of the dust with my granddaughter living metres from the proposed site."

Torfaen MP Paul Murphy has also welcomed the council's decision to reject the proposal.

Mr Murphy said: "I don't think there was anything of any benefit whatsoever to the valley if this had been agreed.

"There would be no employment of any significance and the problems easily outweigh any conceivable benefits.

"The coal recovery scheme in Garn-yr-erw brought something very positive to the valley but there was nothing to that extent on offer here."

At the determination meeting last week Varteg resident John Morgan spoke in support of the application.

Mr Morgan, 74, has lived on Pembroke Terrace for 30 years - in one of the closest houses to the proposed works.

Mr Morgan said: "As far as I'm concerned there's nothing but slag heaps and scrub land so you can see what the benefits would be of reclaiming the land after the works have finished."

The incentives of Glamorgan Power's proposed scheme included a 10-year environment restoration including the removal of tips so the site can be used for grazing and informal public recreation in the long term.

Glamorgan Power would also have paid £350,000 into the Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment (NRA) for properties within 500 metres of the workings.

A further contribution of £212,000 to the NRA would have been ring fenced to the 53 houses in Varteg -this is equivalent to £4,000 per house.

Mr Morgan said: "I've got to look at this mess for the rest of my life unless any work is done."

But some residents were unhappy with Glamorgan PowerÕs offer of money to Varteg.

John Durose, 71, moved to Gladstone Terrace in Varteg seven years ago to retire.

Mr Durose said: "They think money can buy the site and get it going and I don't agree with it.

"We've come here to retire in peace and quiet and the thought of having machines and lorries up here is totally unacceptable.

"Personally I don't thing the restoration work would make any difference at all and wouldn't be an advantage to the area."

Glamorgan Power now has six months to appeal against the decision.

The power company could also make an amendment to the application and resubmit to the council for another determination.

Secretary of the No Campaign Rev Priscilla Pearson said: "I don't think that they're going to walk away from it, there's too much money involved."