This page highlights a two part Review on the extent of Opencast Mining in England in 2009 -2010 and where, in future new opencast sites might be if, in England, we do not have a 500m Buffer Zone.

The MP for North West Leicestershire is currently(25/1/11) promoting a Private Members Bill through Parliament on this (see the Planning Issues and Advice topic in this Forum for more information on this and how you can help).

The Review, written in support of the 500m Buffer Zone Bill contains the following:

B3 ENGLISH OPENCAST COAL SITES 2009-2010 PART ONE: CURRENT SITES

This Briefing Note (B3) is Part One of a review into the extent of Opencast Mining in England. This covers Current Sites known about for 2009 – 2010 and provides information on the 32 sites which are either derelict, being worked, where planning was not approved, where a planning application has been made or where the Public Exhibitions in advance of a formal application has been made. It has been written to provide evidence for the need for a 500 Metre Buffer Zone.

B4) ENGLISH OPENCAST COAL SITES 2009-2010: POTENTIAL SITES

This contains a further list of potential English Opencast sites, which has been gathered from a variety of sources. These sites are listed alphabetically for each local authority area in which they are located, In addition there is information for Nottinghamshire and Greater Manchester. The Coal Constraint Areas of Nottinghamshire have been identified along with Areas of Search for opencast coal for Greater Manchester.

They are free to download from:

http://www.leicestershirevilla…..-zone.html

In view of the interest generated by the publication of this information you can now see news stories about what is happening at Current and Proposed English and Northern Irish opencast sites by following this link:

http://www.leicestershirevilla…..ast-s.html

Posted 24/2/11