Coal in the UK

Villagers raise fears over opencast mining plans

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VILLAGES will suffer noise, dirt and danger if plans for the opencast mining of two million tonnes of coal are approved.

Archaeologists will start digging the site of a potential coal mine to unearth its history as part of an environmental assessment.

A series of shallow trenches will be dug in the next few weeks on land near Whittonstall, north of Consett, County Durham, to find evidence of a history of cultural importance.

UK Coal says it will submit a planning application to carry out the coal extraction, just over the border with County Durham.

But there are fears of the scheme’s impact on villages in Derwentside that could be on the route of lorries going to and from the site.

The company says it is likely to submit an application to work the site, which would be called Hoodsclose, by the end of the year and that if the scheme is approved it would create at least 50 jobs for about seven years.

The presence of coal reserves was proved in the Seventies by a drilling programme by the then National Coal Board (NCB). A subsequent application by the NCB to extract up to 3.5 million tonnes from the Whittonstall site was refused in 1978.

Durham County councillor for Leadgate and Medomsley, Watts Stelling, has voiced his opposition to the scheme because of its impact on his constituents.

Councillor Stelling, a member of the Derwentside Independents group, said: “My concern is that the villages will have coal wagons trundling along country roads through Ebchester, Low Westwood, Hamsterley Colliery, Hamsterley Mill, Leadgate, Lanchester, etc, and that the noise, dirt and danger would be intolerable.

“This part of County Durham already has the heavy lorries to and from Broadoak Quarry not far from the proposed opencast site.

“Enough is enough.

Northumberland County Council should look for any proposed traffic movements to go through their county for a change.’’ UK Coal project manager Richard Cory said: “The scaled-down proposals will take account of the reasons the larger previous scheme was rejected and will include a wide range of measures to protect surrounding communities and the environment.

“Coal that can be recovered from Hoodsclose in an environmentally acceptable way will displace imports, create well-paid jobs and provide a boost for the local and regional economy.”

From: The Northern Echo

Coal battle gearing up

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Residents fighting UK Coal’s plan to create an opencast mine close to The Wrekin are gearing up for their big day tomorrow.

Protest group Friends of the Ercall will be calling clean air campaigner Dr Dick van Steenis to spell out fears that dust from the mine would cause a legacy of asthma for generations to come.

And they will demand UK Coal foots the bill for any damage caused to homes by blasting.

The six-week public inquiry into the proposal will have a new venue from tomorrow – the Holiday Inn, close to Telford International Centre.

From the Shropshire Star

Opencast protestors call expert

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A CAMPAIGN group has called in an internationally renowned health expert in its battle to stop an opencast mining site being built close to their Northumberland hamlet.

HM Project Developments is seeking to excavate 140,000 tonnes of coal from a site close to the tiny hamlet of Halton Lea Gate, near the Cumbrian border.

But now opponents to the scheme have enlisted the help of Dr Dick van Steenis, an expert in industrial air pollution and its effects on health.

Dr van Steenis, a retired GP who is based in Wales, has spent almost 15 years researching the subject, carrying out studies throughout the country.

Hamlet-resident Nick Kennon is chairman of the North Pennines Protection Group, and has helped lead opposition to the 75-acre site development.

He said: “He is obviously a clever man and is quite reputable – the knowledge he has got is unbelievable. What we are going to do is digest all the information, and he is going to produce a health impact assessment.

“He believes that there is a good chance we can get it stopped on health grounds.” Opencast research carried out by Dr van Steenis has included detailed studies of school pupil health records close to sites, specifically asthma levels, as well as the effects on adults living in opencast areas.

His research, which includes studies carried out in the UK and America, also includes the potential negative health effects of people who work on opencast sites.

Two public meetings, each attended by more than 100 people, have been held in the hamlet to discuss the proposal, and the campaign group is encouraging as people to write to Northumberland County Council objecting to plans.

The application will go before the council’s planning committee in March, and Mr Kennon said the plan was to have Dr van Steenis outlining the health implications in person.

Opponents to the scheme are also concerned that the site is adjacent to the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and a site of Special Scientific Interest. It is also home to a number of bird sanctuaries, endangered species, otters, grouse and newts.

The opencast row at Halton Lea Gate is one of a number of controversial developments in Northumberland. UK Coal wants to extract a million tonnes of coal and 200,000 tonnes of fireclay from 250 acres of land at Butterwell, north of Morpeth.

Attempts to put the shackles on surface mining operations in recent years have been thwarted by Government decisions and industry objections, seemingly making it easier for developments to take place.

Paul Murphy, of HM Project Developments, declined to comment last night.

From journal live

Health study on mines plan

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Council bosses are to spend up to £80,000 on a long-awaited study into the possible effects on health from a controversial opencast mine planned for Telford, it was announced today.

Campaigners had been calling for the health impact assessment (HIA) to be carried out regarding UK Coal’s proposals for the site off Huntington Lane, near Little Wenlock.

Now the council has revealed it has commissioned the independent study, which will cost up to £80,000.

The application to mine 900,000 tonnes of coal is going to a public inquiry after UK Coal complained Telford & Wrekin Council had taken too long to decide on the plans – although the council is understood to be set to come out against the scheme anyway.

Councillors will be considering the application at a special plans board meeting on January 22 to allow them to form a view on the application so this can be put forward and argued at the forthcoming inquiry, which is due to start on April 28.

It is understood a report being prepared by council planning officers for the meeting will recommend refusing the application.

The HIA will also form part of the council’s case.

Dr Catherine Woodward, Telford & Wrekin director of public health, had recommended in May the investigation into the potential impact on health be carried out.

The council said an HIA was not required within the statutory planning process, but it considered health to be an important issue in relation to the UK Coal proposal.

Councillor Andrew Eade, council leader, said: “Although we have no statutory obligation to undertake an HIA for this application, I firmly believe this is the correct course of action in the circumstances.

“I am also pleased members of the plans board now have the opportunity to make their views clear to The Planning Inspectorate regarding the opencast mining proposals.”

The council will submit its “statement of case” setting out its position regarding the application by January 28. UK Coal claims the project would make safe an area riddled with dangerous old mine workings, create jobs and help the economy.

Objectors claim their lives would be wrecked and their health harmed.

From the shropshire star