Carmarthenshire council has declined the last outstanding proposal for opencast coal mining in the UK, which sought to extract 85,000 tonnes of coal at the Glan Lash mine near Llandybie. The council's decision was based on significant environmental concerns, including potential damage to protected woodlands, hedgerows, and irreplaceable peatland. Rhodri Griffiths, the council's head of place and sustainability, emphasized that the proposal conflicted with existing policies on biodiversity. Environmental groups, including Friends of the Earth Cymru, hailed the decision as a victory that halts Wales' last opencast coal mine and opens the possibility for land restoration. The Coal Action Network noted that there are currently no active applications for new coal mines in the UK, indicating a commitment to climate action and community health. Bryn Bach Coal Ltd, which had argued for the mine's necessity due to demand for premium quality anthracite, now has six months to appeal the decision. The mine originally opened in 2012 under a license for 92,500 tonnes of coal extraction over four and a half years.