Council Cabinet Members have visited the work site at Graigddu Tip in Dinas, where a major project to stabilise ground conditions at the former coal tip got underway over the summer. They received an early progress update from the site team, with this work being delivered using Welsh Government funding.
Council Leader, Cllr Ann Crimmings, and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Capital Infrastructure, Cllr Andrew Morgan OBE, visited on Thursday, October 1 – where they toured the work site with project contractor Alun Griffiths Ltd. The multi-million pound improvements will be delivered over the next year.
The project will provide protection to Graigddu Road and Vicarage Road, by installing an anchored piled wall along the toe of the tip. A series of drainage improvements will also be carried out, with localised stabilisation on the tip above. The work is being funded through a £4.8 million funding commitment from the Coal Tip Safety Multi-year Grant Scheme from Welsh Government.
Progress update for the site - early stages of work
Construction work started in late July 2026, with the contractor initially setting up the site compound and implementing a required road closure at Graigddu Road and Vicarage Road. Temporary changes to the 173 (Porth-Clydach Vale) bus services, operated by Thomas of Rhondda and Stagecoach, were made at the start of the project – full details included on this previous news item.
Work then progressed to installing biosecurity measures, and treating and removing invasive vegetation. A temporary access road was installed to maintain access for residents of the four properties at Graigddu Farm, while the disconnection and removal of streetlighting was completed. Progress then continued with installing reinforced earth platforms for the piling rigs to operate from, with a surface water culvert diverted and a drainage chamber built.
A concrete trench has also been installed to control the ground risks during the piling works and the future installation of the wall. Piling activity recently got underway in the week commencing Monday, September 21.
Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Capital Infrastructure, said: “This major investment at Graigddu Tip is one of the larger-scale projects in our significant programme to inspect, maintain and deliver works across our former coal tip sites. It was very useful to meet the project team and see the works site in Dinas on Thursday – to see what has been achieved in the early stages of the project, in preparation for the piling works which recently got underway from the last week of September.
“Monitoring our former coal tips site remains an important priority, with our regular programme of routine work complemented by further inspections when bad weather is forecast. Within the Council we have a dedicated Coal Tips Safety Team of officers who facilitate our maintenance work and investment in this area. This year (2026/27), we have secured £13.75 million from Welsh Government’s Coal Tip Safety Grant, including £4.7 million for the Graigddu Tip project. We have also secured a further £5.318 million for 2027/28, including £175,000 for Graigddu Tip.
“The Graigddu Tip project has been carefully designed alongside specialist consultants to stabilise the tip’s ground conditions, improve its drainage, and install key protections – for example, from slope failures. The Council will continue to keep residents up-to-date with progress at key milestones over the months ahead. Thank you to residents for your continued cooperation in accommodating these works – with the road closure, temporary access road, and changes to bus routes now implemented for the project’s duration.”
Contractor Alun Griffiths Ltd has provided a dedicated community liaison officer, Neil Evans, to answer queries from local residents. This officer can be contacted via phone (01873 857211) or email (enquiries@alungriffiths.co.uk).
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Posted on 05/10/2026