Fight against opencast in Yorkshire
A campaign group claims it has received more than 1,000 objections to a proposed opencast mine near Fairburn Ings.
Yorkshire Against New Coal (YANC) has launched a campaign to fight Banks Mining’s plan to extract 875,000 tonnes of coal from the Newton Lane site over five years.
Chris Mackins, of YANC, said: “We’ve been taking the campaign out on to the streets
of Yorkshire and asking people to sign objection letters. The response has been phenomenal.
“Generally, the public understand that climate change is an urgent issue and that digging up and burning new coal is obviously going to make this situation worse.
“People are saying to Leeds City Council that they do not want a coal hole.”
Angry residents in Ledston, Ledsham and Fairburn have formed their own action group Residents Against Greenbelt Exploitation (RAGE) against the plans, which they fear could have an impact on Fairburn Ings, the water levels there and would bring noise and dust to the village.
Steven Harrison, Banks’ managing director, said the company would use the quietest machinery available and haulage routes would not go through Ledston village.
The firm said the project would create around 40 local jobs, as well as supporting many others in local supply chain businesses.
The company has submitted the plans to Leeds Council and is waiting for a date for them to be discussed at a planning committee meeting.
