Letter to Dr Dominik von Achten, CEO of Heidelberg Materials
Congratulations on your €22bn revenue for 2022. I know your 2023 results are due shortly. You must be so excited about your continued growth and predominance in the market. And that the planned expansion of your operations at Craig yr Hesg quarry in Glyncoch, South Wales will contribute to that.
Collective memory
You probably know little of the history of South Wales mineral extraction, and may care even less about the consequences of your actions. You don’t live here, after all. If you were to visit and take a walk to the top of Craig yr Hesg, you could stop for a moment to marvel at the south-facing views. Then turn your eyes to the gaping, consuming entity behind you, as it extends ever closer to homes and a school.
Your planned expansion would make the dangers and unpleasantness of dust, noise, and a blighted green space even more significant for the unfortunate residents of Glyncoch. Perhaps as you witness the impacts on their quality of life, you could also run a quick calculation of the glorious sums of money that will be generated as a result of your extracting a further 15.8mn tons of rock over the coming years.
From where you were standing, you’d only have to travel a few miles up the valley to see Aberfan, or glance across to the former site of the Albion Colliery at Cilfynydd, or up the hillside in the direction of Sengenydd on the other side of Eglwysilan. These place names may mean nothing to you in Heidelberg, but they form part of the indelible collective memory of the communities of South Wales.
You see, the South Wales Valleys, with their rich history and natural beauty, have endured centuries of despoliation. This is particularly evident in the Taff Valley, and Heidelberg Cement – your UK subsidiary – is just the latest member of a group of remote operators who took their fill of Welsh natural resources before leaving ruins and desolation behind for local people to contend with.
Disaster and death
The Taff Valley, blessed with abundant natural resources, became a hub of industrial activity during the last two centuries. Coal mining and quarrying operations proliferated, driving economic ‘growth’ but exacting a heavy toll on environmental and human health.
The unbridled extraction of coal and stone scarred the landscape, leaving derelict mine workings, spoil heaps, and quarries that continue to mar the valley’s once-pristine scenery. And it was deadly. I’ll give context to some place names, as they probably mean little to you.
The Aberfan disaster of 21 October 1966 stands as a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of unchecked industrial activity. A colliery waste tip collapsed, burying the village primary school and claiming the lives of 144 people, mostly children. The tragedy shook the nation and exposed the negligent practices of extraction operators, who prioritised profit over safety. It remains a poignant symbol of human folly and the devastating impacts of environmental despoliation on communities. Former tips remain dangerous across Wales.
The Senghenydd disaster of 14 October 1913 was the deadliest mining accident in British history. An underground explosion at the Universal Colliery killed the 439 miners. It laid bare the harsh realities of coal mining, characterised by hazardous working conditions, inadequate safety measures, and corporate indifference to workers’ wellbeing: the human cost of industrial exploitation.
The Albion Colliery disaster of 1894 is another sombre chapter in the Taff Valley’s history. Another underground explosion claimed the lives of 290 miners, plunging families and communities into mourning. It underscored the inherent dangers of mining and the urgent need for safety standards and regulatory oversight. Yet, despite the tragic loss of life, the wheels of industrial exploitation continued to turn, perpetuating a cycle of despoliation and human suffering.
Impacts of Craig yr Hesg quarry
Bear in mind, Dr von Achten, that these disasters all happened within a few miles of Craig yr Hesg quarry. There are many other instances I could call on from slightly further afield. But while coal mining has garnered much attention for its environmental and human toll, the dangers of quarrying – particularly in terms of dust exposure – cannot be overlooked.
As you are surely well aware, quarrying operations generate vast quantities of dust containing harmful particles such as silica, which can cause respiratory diseases such as silicosis, and exacerbate existing lung conditions. Airborne dust poses a threat to the health and wellbeing of nearby communities, contributing to respiratory ailments and reducing overall quality of life.
The despoliation of the Taff Valley, epitomised by such tragedies as those described above, is a prime example of the perils of unchecked industrialisation and environmental degradation we see around the world. That central and local governments have given you a pass to do it doesn’t make it right.
As we confront the legacies of the past and strive for a more sustainable future, it is imperative to learn from such tragedies and prioritise the wellbeing of the land and its inhabitants. Only through collective action and responsible stewardship can we ensure that the Taff Valley, and indeed all of Wales, thrives for generations to come.
It is a matter for concern, then, that you minimise the risk your operations are causing to the people of the Pontypridd area. To quote from your appeal, “The dust assessments concluded that the potential impacts associated with both the continuation of existing activities and the proposed extension would be slightly adverse at most.”
Deemed acceptable
Your appeal added, “The proposed extension is deemed acceptable in terms of human health, as air quality objectives outside the site will continue to be met.” These statements and many others echo the false assurances offered to the people of this valley over centuries of exploitation.
In future generations, the name of Heidelberg might become synonymous with another extraction disaster that could have been foreseen and avoided. In any event, the scarring you will leave behind will always be your legacy. However, I fear that Craig yr Hesg quarry, to you, is just another entry in your balance sheet – something to be discounted and forgotten about in a few years time.
Haven’t you taken enough? The quarry has been operating for over 130 years. The last expansion, granted more than 25 years ago, was said to be the last. Would you or the people of Heidelberg permit a quarry within 164 metres of a school or within a mile of the community centre? Of course not. Why, then, should the people of Pontypridd, Glyncoch, and other nearby communities have to? Here’s our petition.
Dr von Achten, please reconsider this decision. Leave something of the beauty of Craig yr Hesg for future generations to cherish and enjoy. This includes animal and plant species found at and around Craig yr Hesg quarry, which will suffer irreparable harm. Owls, red kites, and ravens. Bluebells, bats, and wagtails. Dragonflies, finches, and trees. And humans.
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