WIND farm developers have opposed the final phase of an opencast coal site on Betws Mountain - without success.

Cambrian Renewable Energy Ltd (Crel) claim heathland and other habitats they are seeking to enhance will be destroyed.

The company also maintains that the expansion of the Cwm yr Onen Colliery will jeopardise its proposed wind farm because of ground stability affecting two turbines.

But councillors approved the development, at Henrhyd Farm, after planning officer Hugh Towns said Crel had failed to provide scientific evidence to maintain its objection.

Bryn Bach Coal Ltd was granted permission to opencast 14,100 tonnes of anthracite, over 18 months, from the final phase of the colliery.

Carmarthenshire Council's planning committee was told that the decision would protect five jobs at the colliery and secure another five at a coal washery in Waunhafog Road, Llandybie.

The applicants hope to have another site available for working in 18 months, which would maintain the employment of all ten men.

Crel considers it "contrary" to allow an opencast coal mine right next door to its wind farm site, which was granted permission following a Welsh Assembly planning inquiry last year.

And it claims Bryn Bach's application does not contain a clear explanation of why the coal is needed.

But Mr Towns said the colliery would provide single-seam, high-quantity anthracite, producing a premium product for local domestic markets and the British brick-making industry.

Bryn Bach Ltd maintains that its coal is important because other suppliers mine multiple seams, which are not of such consistently high quality.