A 350,000-ton opencast mining operation is being planned for north Torfaen.

Private developer Glamorgan Power Company wants to extract coal from land just outside Varteg - and, as part of the deal, is promising to restore the 153- acre site to a "high standard" for grazing and public amenity purposes.

The opencast operation would be on the slopes of Mynydd Farteg, close to Pembroke Terrace and Salisbury Terrace, and would see 2,000-2,500 tons of coal mined per week.

The coal would be taken by lorry along the Varteg to Blaenavon road to Cwmbargoed, near Merthyr Tydfil, for processing.

A report from the firm's representatives to local councillors says: "There would be some short-term disturbance to local residents, but this would be outweighed by the significant long-term benefits accruing to the local community."

The whole process could take up to four and a half years.

Torfaen council confirmed its officers are working on a document which sets out what environmental provisions the company must make in its outline planning application.

The document will be available for locals to view, and a spokesman from Glamorgan Power said there would be full consultation with the community on the plans.

Councillor Ken Clark, ward member for Abersychan with Torfaen council, is to meet residents in Varteg to discuss the plans, which are still in the early stages.

Local campaigner Wayne Tomlinson, from Talywain, is already fighting plans for large-scale opencast mining at the British.

"Residents will be very concerned. If this goes ahead along with plans at the British, it could pave the way for opencast mining right up from Talywain to Varteg," he warned.

But others gave the plans a cautious welcome. Colette Watkins, 41, of Pembroke Terrace, said: "If they do a good job and it ends up with a better outlook for us, then yes, I'd be in favour."

Neighbour John Morgan, 66, agreed: "As far as I'm concerned the quicker they do it, the better, as long as the firm doesn't go through like last time. "There was a mine started some years ago that we all supported because it was going to be obscured from view and provide jobs, and that lasted about 18 months. "We've had promises before."