Health study on mines plan
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.
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