Cwmtillery tip drainage phase complete, with slope works next

The first phase of work on the Cwmtillery coal tip is complete, Blaenau Gwent Council has confirmed. Larger pipes, new drainage and reshaped ground are intended to prevent water collecting and reduce erosion after the Storm Bert landslide.

What happens next

The council’s 23 September update says the next phase is due to start early in 2027. It will reshape steep slopes, add drainage and include grass seeding and tree planting. Completion of the first stage does not mean the whole scheme has finished.

Funding and the affected community

Welsh Government funding totals £1.3 million for phase one and £3 million for phase two over the next two years, the council says. These are funding allocations, not a published final spending account.

Forty homes were evacuated following the landslip. The council says it has held regular resident meetings and will continue giving updates through the next phase.