ABERFAN TODAY; COAL TIPS SURROUNDING VILLAGE; TEMPORARY BUILDINGS; ARRIVALS FOR OFFICIAL INQUIRY; PARENTS AND RESIDENTS MEETING




Initials AA/V--B/MGT/JG



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Background: A DEMAND THAT BRITAIN'S NATIONAL COAL BOARD SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO REMOVE EVERY TIP ON ABERFAN MOUNTAIN HAS BEEN MADE BY THE ABERFAN PARENTS AND RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION. THE DEMAND CAME AFTER TIP NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH SLIPPED SIX WEEKS AGO AND TOOK 144 LIVES, HAD MOVED AGAIN. COAL BOARD EXPERTS SAID THE FURTHER SLIDE GAVE NO CAUSE FOR ANXIETY. IT WAS PERHAPS INEVITABLE BECAUSE OF THE BOREHOLES THAT HAD BEEN MADE IN AN EFFORT TO GET DATA ABOUT THE ORIGINAL SLIDE, THEY SAID.

THE LATEST SLIP OF ABOUT 150 YARDS (METRES) OCCURRED WHILE THE DISASTER TRIBUNAL WAS HEARING EVIDENCE FROM TEACHERS OF PENTGLAS SCHOOL. THE OFFICIAL INQUIRY OPENED LAST WEDNESDAY AND IT IS EXPECTED TO LAST ABOUT 40 DAYS. BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL OPENED SOME 200 STATEMENTS WERE TAKEN AND THESE WILL BE PRESENTED DURING THE INQUIRY WHICH WILL PROBE EVERY ASPECT OF THE DISASTER OF OCTOBER 21ST WHICH KILLED 116 SCHOOLCHILDREN AND 28 ADULTS.

MEANWHILE THE FUND FOR THE ABERFAN DISASTER IS RISING. IT HAS ALREADY PASSED GBP1 MILLION AND COULD WELL REACH GBP3 MILLION. LEGAL BRAINS ARE NOW SORTING OUT HOW TO ADMINISTER THE GIGANTIC DISASTER FUND. SO FAR ABOUT GBP90,000 HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED. THE FIRST PRIORITY HAS BEEN TO ALLEVIATE IMMEDIATE DISTRESS AND GBP2,000 HAS GONE TO EVERY FAMILY WHOSE HOME WAS DESTROYED. ANOTHER GBP100 HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ALL THOSE WHO HAD TO LEAVE THEIR HOUSES, AND A FURTHER GBP200 HAS BEEN GIVEN TO EVERY FAMILY WHICH HAD A CHILD IN THE PENTGLAS SCHOOL WHETHER OR NOT THAT CHILD WAS HARMED.

MORE SUBSTANTIAL PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE LATER AS THE ASSESSORS WORK OUT THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE TO EACH HOUSE. BUT FOR THE PEOPLE OF ABERFAN NEITHER THE MONEY NOR THE FINDINGS OF THE INQUIRY WILL BRING SO MUCH RELIEF TO THEIR MINDS AS THE REMOVAL OF THE THREE TIPS THAT HOVER OVER THE GRIEF-STRICKEN VILLAGE.