Information for local residents

Letter for local residents (12July 2019)

Dear Sir/Madam

You may now be aware from press coverage that the Council took the decision yesterday to bring forward the summer school holidays for staff and pupils at Godre’r Graig Primary School. This decision was made following the receipt of a report from geological experts which identified a risk to the school’s playground from a potential landslide.

This is early information from our specialist geotechnical advisers and our main focus is the hazard linked directly with the quarry spoil above the school; I must emphasize that the school was closed as a precautionary measure until further detailed investigations are undertaken.

The report provided by Earth Science Partnership (ESP), the experts commissioned by Neath Port Talbot Council, identifies a medium level risk from a quarry spoil tip near the school which is affected by ground water. ESP’s investigation found that if the stream became blocked as the result of a severe weather event, there is a possibility that water levels and pressures in the tip
could induce material to flow downhill.

The report specifically refers to the school and its grounds only and does not currently refer to the wider area. The Council are, however, mindful of concerns from local residents and as such, we have asked ESP to carry out further detailed investigations and ground modelling to establish if there is any potential impact upon the area surrounding the school. When this information becomes available we will be in contact with you again with a further update.

The draft report is available to view on the Council’s website. 

The Council has also set up a dedicated email address as follows: godrergraig@npt.gov.uk

Yours sincerely
G J Nutt
Director of Environment