Welsh parties commit to restoration ahead of elections

We worked with media outlet, Nation.Cymru, to ask where the main political parties in Wales stands on restoration issues ahead of the Welsh election on 07th May 2026. This is a key issue for many people, but particularly those who live near under-restored opencast coal mine sites. These sites need Welsh Government support to bring them more in line with the quality that was promised to local residents. It's also vital that Wales learns lessons from its scarred landscape. We hope that these political parties remember these pre-election commitments when it comes to determine the called-in Ffos-y-fran ex-opencast restoration planning application. Reform was the only party not to respond - but this is a summary of what the other political parties of Wales had to say:

(see the Nation.Cymru article for the full account)

Plaid Cymru

• Industry Accountability: Strengthening "polluter pays" laws to ensure companies that profited from heavy industry are legally responsible for land restoration.

• National Remediation: Implementing a nationwide strategy to monitor and restore every coal tip, while demanding Westminster fund the clean-up of pre-devolution hazards.

• Community Planning: Reforming land-use planning to balance development with nature restoration and better public access to green spaces.

Wales Green Party

• Justice First: Mandating that polluters pay for all prevention and repair, ensuring environmental damage is never subsidized by the public.

• Ecological Regeneration: Focusing on long-term ecological repair of mining sites rather than short-term safety fixes to deliver environmental justice.

• Fundamental Access: Treating high-quality nature access as a fundamental right, prioritizing new green spaces in communities historically affected by industry.

Welsh Labour

• Pollution Reform: Introducing a new Clean Water Bill and a dedicated watchdog to crack down on water pollution.

• Tip Safety: Establishing a "Disused Tips Authority" in Merthyr Tydfil to secure 400+ sites and exploring solar energy or mine-water heating on reclaimed land.

• Green Renewal: Expanding on the 4,000+ green spaces already created by launching an urban rewilding taskforce.

Welsh Liberal Democrats

• Aggressive Enforcement: Taking tough action on sewage and industrial dumping, ensuring big companies—not local taxpayers—foot the bill for clean-ups.

• Green Opportunity: Moving past "empty nostalgia" by transforming former coal sites into hubs for green industry, housing, and skilled work.

• Land Reclamation: Partnering with councils to turn derelict land into parks, tree-filled areas, and safe walking or cycling routes.

Welsh Conservatives

• New Oversight: Scrapping Natural Resources Wales and replacing it with a new independent regulator to enforce environmental rules.

• Conservation Funding: Establishing a £20m "Wildlife Wales Fund" to support conservation efforts and community green spaces.

• Economic Focus: Prioritizing economic transformation in coalfield areas while protecting heritage and improving site safety.