Councillors reject plans for an opencast mine near Fairburn Ings
CONTROVERSIAL plans for an opencast mine near Fairburn Ings have been rejected by council chiefs.
Campaigners applauded and cheered as councillors voted against Banks Mining’s proposal to extract 875,000 tonnes of coal over five years at the Newton Lane site at a Leeds City Council meeting this afternoon.
Members of the planning committee rejected the plans - which had been recommended for approval - because of concerns including transport, the impact on the community and the “specialness” of Fairburn Ings.
Resident Roy Wilson, speaking against the plans, said: “It would take five years to mine this coal, just 11 days to burn it and 50 years for the landscape to recover.”
Placard-waving members of campaign group Yorkshire Against New Coal (YANC) had rallied outside the council’s civic hall before the meeting began.
Chris Mackins, of the group, told councillors: “The application is hugely unpopular and a disaster for climate change.”
A report to the meeting said that more than 1,400 letters of objection had been received - citing reasons including the potential impact on the nature reserve, the local area, ecomony, families as well as climate change and the effect of extra lorries on the roads.
Banks said the mine would create 41 new jobs.
From the Pontefract & Castleford Express
