1. Where economic regeneration and human health collide: HIA of a land reclamation scheme with opencast coal extraction, Wales UK Dr Alison Golby Professor Gareth Williams Dr Eva Elliott Welsh Health Impact Assessment Support Unit

3. Source: Community Health Profiles, Wales Centre for Health

5. “sickest place in Wales, if not Britain” (Independent, 21.09.99) Worse than rest of Wales: Death rates –heart disease, strokes, respiratory disease Incidence of respiratory and mental illness 30% limiting long term illness (Census for England and Wales, 2001)

6. Social and Economic Profile Some areas designated ‘Communities First’ Most deprived in terms of: Employment (much higher than Wales) Income Education (Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation, 2005)

7. Wales: A Better Country sets out: “our guiding vision of a fairer, more prosperous, healthier and better educated country, rooted in our commitment to social justice and to putting health and wealth creation that is sustainable at the heart of policy- making” (Wales: A Better Country, September 2003)

8. Economic regeneration Meets national requirement for coal Provides employment – 200 direct jobs Enables the reclamation of former mine shafts and former landfill sites Continues the regeneration of the area - development of housing, retail and industry Restoration of unsightly land

9. Negative economic impacts sustainable local employment type of employment created and skills certain industries, tourism and food inward investment house prices for duration of scheme

10. Negative health and social impacts loss of Urban Common and access to open spaces visual and change in character of area worsening of some existing health complaints quality of life and psychological wellbeing cumulative impacts – previous coal operations, existing polluting industries, waste extraction, poor health in area, size and duration of scheme close proximity, and vulnerable populations

12. Final comment “To achieve a dynamic balance between issues of employment and growth and those of the environment and local sustainability was … always going to be a difficult task” (Beynon, Cox and Hudson, Digging Up Trouble, 2000, p.258)

13. Welsh Health Impact Assessment Support Unit Gareth Williams (Director) Eva Elliott (Manager) Alison Golby (Research Associate) Liz Green (Development Officer)