Stop £91.2 million in nature restoration disappearing

We're Coal Action Network , a small non-profit established in 2008. The coal mining company that operated the UK's last opencast coal mine, Ffos-y-fran (South Wales), promised to restore nature to the site once coal mining finished. 16 years on, the coal mine finally closed - but now the company, Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd, is refusing to fund the restoration deal agreed.

Instead of the high standard of restoration it agreed to, the company is applying to downgrade it by around 85-90% to a "low level" restoration. We need to pay specialists, Richard Buxton Solicitors , to point out to Councillors and staff at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council that approving the company's attempt not to clean up its mess would undermine the principle of 'polluters pay'. 100% of funds will go to legal fees.

As reported on in the media , Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd's most recent audited accounts clearly states that it has set aside £91.2 million to restore nature of Ffos-y-fran, even claiming tax breaks on this. So why is the Council not forcing the company to fund the agreed restoration deal? The Council has ignored over 250 people asking this question, so now we need to get solicitors involved - which is costly, but there is too much at stake not to.