Eluned Morgan MS, First Minister of Wales
Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
The Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Act, which received Royal Assent last month, will ensure the long-term effective management of disused tips and reduce the threat to public safety.
A key provision in the Act is the establishment of a new Welsh Government arm’s length body, the Disused Tips Authority for Wales, (the Authority). This new public body will be responsible for checking, recording, monitoring and managing tips.
A significant amount of work is being done to ensure that everything is in place in time for the establishment of the Authority on 1 April 2027. This includes the launch of the Chief Executive Officer recruitment campaign which started on 29 October 2025.
Once fully established the Authority will be undertaking an incredibly important role, employing up to 77 staff creating around 60 new jobs.
It will be the first organisation of its type in the UK, and a world leader in its field - developing knowledge, experience and skills that will benefit the people of Wales for generations. Wales once developed and provided expertise in mining that was exported throughout the world during the 19th and 20th Centuries – this is an opportunity to lead the world again, this time in creating a talent pipeline, creating groundbreaking opportunities and experience of dealing with our mining legacy during a time of significant change in our climate. We will also continue to focus on apprenticeships and post 16 education to identify existing and new opportunities to create a talent pipeline in the medium and long term.
A key milestone in the Authority’s creation is a decision on the location of its headquarters. I am therefore very pleased to announce that the Authority’s headquarters will be in the heart of the south Wales valleys coalfield communities, at the Welsh Government office at Rhyd Y Car, Merthyr Tydfil. Over 90% of the disused coal tips that carry the potential to impact public safety (category C and D) are in the south Wales valleys. It is fitting that the office is itself built on a reclaimed colliery tip site.
The Authority will be centred in the communities that have the most to gain from its work. The importance of the Authority’s purpose - to ensure that disused tips do not threaten human welfare by reason of their instability - will be built in from the very start.
This will optimise the use of the Welsh Government estate. It is also important that alongside the Chief Executive, we will make sure that the organisation is represented in other parts of Wales.
In the interim, the Welsh Government’s coal tip safety programme of work carries on and continues to work closely with public partners to deliver an effective inspection and maintenance regime across Wales.