The funding, confirmed through the Welsh Government’s new multiyear coal tip safety grant scheme, will be spent over the next three years as the council steps up work to manage ageing tips made increasingly unstable by extreme weather.
Neath Port Talbot has some of the highest concentrations of former coal tips in the country, many of them sitting close to homes, roads and rivers. The council said the condition of tips can change quickly, with heavy rain and storms increasing the risk of movement.
£1.2m of the funding will be used to create a dedicated Tip Management Team responsible for inspections, monitoring and planning future mitigation works. The team will work closely with the Mining Remediation Authority to ensure the council can respond quickly to any emerging risks.
A further £2.4m will go directly into mitigation works already identified as necessary to keep communities safe. These will be prioritised based on risk, with additional funding allocated if further issues are uncovered.
Neath Port Talbot is one of 10 councils to secure support through the scheme, which runs until the end of the 2028‑29 financial year. In total, £80m is being made available across Wales.
Neath Port Talbot Council Leader, Councillor Steve Hunt, said:
“Safeguarding communities from unsafe coal tips is vital. This funding shows Neath Port Talbot Council is taking a proactive approach to address the problem. We hope this provides reassurance to residents that their safety is a priority.”
The council said the work will help modernise the way coal tips are monitored, ensuring regular inspections and long‑term planning as climate change increases the likelihood of heavy rainfall and ground instability.
