Landslide from Coal Tip in Cwmtillery Described as “River of Boulders and Trees”

A woman whose street was affected by a landslide originating from a coal tip recounted seeing slurry carrying “trees and big boulders” flow down the road. Residents in Cwmtillery, Blaenau Gwent, were compelled to evacuate their residences and seek shelter in a leisure centre on Sunday night, following intense rainfall brought by Storm Bert. Dianne Morgan reported that one tree was carried down Upper Gwastad Terrace, demolishing a garage, while another landed on a car amidst “loads of slurry running down and piling up.” Blaenau Gwent council verified that the landslide resulted from a “wash-out of a former coal tip in the area,” further stating that the tip was classified as Category D, indicating the highest potential risk to public safety. This incident has led to calls for the UK government to increase the £25 million in support previously allocated for coal tip safety. The landslide submerged buildings in a thick layer of sludge and mud as water cascaded down the thoroughfare. Vehicles became trapped among the mud and rocks after debris descended from a nearby coal tip. Ms Morgan, who has resided near the coal tip for almost a decade, stated, “I rang emergency services and explained that trees were coming down the road, big boulders and that a garage has been completely destroyed.” She added, “He said, ‘do you want some sandbags’, and I said ‘I don’t think sandbags are going to do it’. “It was a good few hours before anybody came,” she further noted. Despite instructions to evacuate, Ms Morgan explained that leaving was challenging due to her daughter’s blindness. She also mentioned not being informed that the tip was among the highest risk sites in Wales, asserting, “They should have informed people better than what they do.” First Minister Eluned Morgan affirmed that the Welsh government was monitoring the coal tips “very carefully.” She stated, “We will do everything in our powers to make sure that we keep the investment going into making sure that we protect those tips from any landslides.” The Welsh government declared its “full commitment to ensuring our coal tip communities are safe, both now and in the future.” It added, “The highest risk coal tips (category C and D) are regularly inspected by the Coal Authority and we will continue to work with our statutory partners throughout Wales to inspect and evaluate the highest rates tips in Wales.” Wayne Green, a resident living on a row of houses situated highest on the mountain and directly below the landslip site, confirmed that he and his family proceeded to the emergency centre after being instructed to vacate the street. He described the experience: “It