Pembrokeshire's historic coalfield, which was last worked 60 years ago, is still a live issue as far as planning is concerned.

Safeguarding coal reserves in the county is an important feature of the Joint Unitary Development Plan and Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet members recommended the preparation of supplementary planning guidance on matters prospective coalfield developers will have to heed. Underground and opencast mining, reworking of waste tips, augur boring, methane, coal exploration and working of associated minerals all have to be taken into account in future planning considerations.

The Pembrokeshire coalfield was worked for many centuries with seams stretching from Amroth to St Brides Bay. The nationalisation of the mines in 1948 resulted in the closure of the surviving mines, the last to operate in the northern section being Hook and the final mine to close being near Kilgetty a few years later.

For centuries Pembrokeshire anthracite was claimed to be the hardest, cleanest coal in the land and well within living memory it was in great demand, while culm, a mixture of coaldust and clay, was burned in many households, particularly in the country.

A culm 'ball fire' was usually kept in permanently by 'stumming' down at night and re-opening in the morning.

The likelihood of coal mining being revived in the county seems remote, but there are still said to be rich reserves around Saundersfoot and Kilgetty and under Carmarthen Bay and St Brides Bay and the Daugleddau estuary.