Mine battler’s claim of ‘blood on hands’

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A community campaigner fighting plans for an opencast coal mine in Telford claimed supporters of the scheme would have “blood on their hands” if the scheme was finally given the go-ahead.

Pat Judson, of Friends of the Ercall, claimed a mine would cause asthma and other problems for children living nearby.

And he said it was appalling that health issues appeared to be given little weight in the planning process.

He was giving his final address yesterday at the six-week public inquiry into UK Coal’s bid to extract 900,000 tonnes of coal and 250,000 tonnes of fireclay from Huntington Lane, between New Works and Little Wenlock.

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

Telford & Wrekin Council says a mine would cause misery for residents and harm precious countryside, including part of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Inspector Andrew Mead has been hearing final speeches from barristers for UK Coal and the council before considering the evidence and reporting to the Government. A decision by ministers is not due before the end of the year.

The other group officially represented at the inquiry is Friends of the Ercall, whose witness, retired GP Dr Dick van Steenis, claimed potentially dangerous fine dust particles would be blown on to an area in which more than 90,000 people live.

Mr Judson told the inspector: “We find it appalling and repugnant that health is barely worth a mention within English planning guidance.

“Those who have played a part in this application for an opencast mine, close to large concentrations of housing and schools, will have blood on their hands.”

Afterwards, he paid tribute to the council for leading the battle against UK Coal. “The community really appreciates the council’s efforts and looks forward to working with it in future to protect the area around The Wrekin and Ercall,” he said.

From the Shropshire Star

Mine ‘would kill town’s image’

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Telford’s image as a modern, clean town, surrounded by countryside, would be wrecked by an opencast coal mine in an area of outstanding natural beauty, it was claimed today.

Planning expert Dr Malcolm Hockaday said residents’ lives would be spoilt by noise, dust and traffic from excavations visible from The Wrekin.

And he accused UK Coal of failing to prove any exceptional need to justify digging up a nationally important beauty spot and wildlife haven.

He was speaking at a public inquiry into UK Coal’s application to extract 900,000 tonnes of coal from a site in Huntington Lane over three years.

The coal, largely destined for Ironbridge Power Station, would come from two craters between Little Wenlock and New Works, linked by a “haul road” for trucks over a scheduled ancient monument.

UK Coal says 92 jobs would be created while Telford’s economy would be boosted by the site’s £13 million annual turnover.

It claims the mine is needed to cut Britain’s reliance on imported coal and reduce the carbon footprint of carrying coal thousands of miles from Siberia.

Telford & Wrekin Council, which is leading the opposition, today called its main witness, Cardiff-based consultant Dr Hockaday, a fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

He said: “Telford’s success has been based on its new identity as a modern and clean town, lying within attractive green surroundings.

“The legacy of deep mining and associated industry has now all but disappeared.”

The council’s efforts to shed Telford’s mining past and move into the 21st century would be harmed by a new mine, he claimed.

Dr Hockaday said that the proposed site, which is partly in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, was a nationally important buffer between Telford and the countryside.

It was treasured as a gateway to The Wrekin.

Its planning status was the same as a national park and Government policy banned opencast mines in such areas except in “exceptional” circumstances, he said.

The inquiry continues.

From the Shropshire Star\