Council’s coal mine petition at No 10

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A Shropshire parish council has set up an online petition on a Government web- site urging Communities Secretary John Denham to reject plans for a giant opencast coal mine in Telford.

Little Wenlock Parish Council’s plea, on the Number 10 petitions website, claims the plan by UK Coal would wreck lives, scar the landscape for generations and harm wildlife.

UK Coal wants to extract 900,000 tonnes of coal and 250,000 tonnes of fireclay from Hungtington Lane, between New Works and Little Wenlock.

The company claims a mine would help meet demands by the Government for home-produced coal, create 92 jobs and provide fuel for Ironbridge Power Station.

The proposal has, however, sparked fierce opposition and it prompted a six-week public inquiry in Telford, which ended this month.

The inspector will now make a recommendation on whether the plan should or should not be approved but the ultimate decision lies in the hands of the Government.

Little Wenlock Parish Council’s online petition “implores” Mr Denham to throw out the plan, claiming “it would deter tourists from visiting the area and be seriously detrimental to future investment in Telford”, and “it would destroy the image of Telford as a modern, clean town surrounded by green countryside”.

To see the petition, visit http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/UKCoal-Telford/

From: Shropshire Star

Landowners U-turn over mining plan

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Campaigners battling proposals for an opencast mine at a Telford beauty spot were dealt a huge blow today after it was revealed the nearest landowner has withdrawn his opposition to the scheme.

Terry Beanland’s company Wolverton Woodlands owns land next to the site UK Coal has earmarked for mining.

He has written to the planning inspector leading the public inquiry formally withdrawing his objections and giving his support.

A six-week inquiry into the plans for Huntington Lane, near Little Wenlock, is to start at Telford’s Grays Hotel on April 28.

UK Coal says its plan will stabilise an area riddled by old mine workings, create 90 jobs and help meet the national demand for coal.

Wolverton Woodlands owns Short Wood, Birch Coppice, Black Hayes Wood and Limekiln Wood.

Mr Beanland had resisted the application because of concerns over access to his land and the risk of damage to valuable growing timber.

But today he confirmed he had written a letter supporting the plans following a meeting with UK Coal.

He said: “I wanted certain assurances it would not affect my land detrimentally in terms of the distance of the operation from the woods and that access would be maintained at all times.”

Mr Beanland said UK Coal had assured him its operation would be kept a minimum of 20m from his woodland at all times.

Pat Judson, of pressure group Friends of the Ercall, which opposes mining, said he was concerned by Mr Beanland’s move.

From the Shropshire Star

Council also to oppose mine plans

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Campaigners were celebrating today after borough councillors unanimously declared their opposition to an opencast coal mine at a Telford beauty spot. UK Coal’s proposals were slammed as “rape of the countryside” at a meeting of Telford & Wrekin Council’s plans board.

It means Telford will put up a united front when a public inquiry into the scheme is held in April – with parish and borough councils, wildlife groups, residents and MPs Mark Pritchard and David Wright joining forces to fight the mine.

Pat Judson, of protest group Friends of the Ercall, said after last night’s “no” vote: “I’m absolutely ecstatic.

“We’ve spent just over a year campaigning and we look forward to taking our battle to the inquiry.”

More than 500 people have bombarded Telford & Wrekin Council with objections to UK Coal’s desire to start mining at Huntington Lane, near Little Wenlock.

They fear the health of future generations will be harmed by dust, wildlife will be wiped out, property values will fall and beautiful countryside in the shadow of The Wrekin will be blighted.

The application is to extract 900,000 tonnes of coal, largely destined for Ironbridge Power Station. UK Coal says it would make safe an area riddled with old mine workings, create 90 jobs, meet national demand for coal, and disputed claims over health fears.

Councillor Terry Kiernan said: “It would be total rape of the countryside.”

Councillor Angela McClements, of Arleston ward, said: “Residents don’t want to see dust and pollution dumped on their properties from above.”

From the Shropshire Star

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

Mine firm says ‘No link to diseases’

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Fears that a proposed opencast mine near The Wrekin (Huntington Lane) will blight the health of future generations of children are unfounded, UK Coal claimed today.

Managers said that a major independent study carried out by the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne clearly revealed asthma and other respiratory problems were not linked to dust fallouts from mines.

The controversy is over plas by UK Coal to extr- act 900,000 tonnes of coal – largely destined for Ironbridge Power Station – at Huntington Lane near Little Wenlock. 

UK Coal says this would make safe an area riddled with old mine workings, create dozens of jobs and help meet national demand for coal.

Objectors claim their lives would be wrecked and their health harmed by the noise and dust, with wildlife wiped out and property values plummeting. 

They want a health impact assessment carried out before Telford & Wrekin Council makes a decision.

They are supported by Mark Pritchard, Wrekin MP, who says UK Coal should pay for the study.

Read the full article at the Shropshire Star

Group hails mining report

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Campaigners have welcomed news of a decision on a “vital” health report into a planned coal mine on the edge of Telford could be made within weeks.

Protesters fighting UK Coal’s plans for an opencast mine at New Works Lane, near Little Wenlock, Huntington Lane say a health impact assessment (HIA) is vital before members of Telford & Wrekin Council’s plans board make a decision on the scheme, as the results of the assessment could have a major bearing on their views.

Just under a dozen people gathered outside Telford & Wrekin Primary Care Trust’s offices in Trench Lock yesterday, to pressurise officers into ensuring an HIA is carried out.

Following the protest, Simon Conolly, PCT chief executive, said he had been advised approval for the HIA will be sought by the end of November.

He said he had spoken to colleagues at Telford & Wrekin Council and the need for an independently-commissioned health impact assessment was acknowledged.

Patrick Judson, who organised yesterday’s protest, said the health report was vital as a “public health concern”.

He said: “At the end of the day, this must be sorted before it goes to a planning meeting, because to do so after will be a grave error.”

Original Story from the Shropshire Star