Controversial proposals to mine nearly one million tonnes of coal near The Wrekin were due to be formally lodged today - just hours before opponents were to hold a meeting.UK Coal wants to mine 900,000 tonnes over 32 months in countryside just outside Lawley.
Telford & Wrekin Council was told the plan, for New Works and Huntington, would be submitted today.
Opponents defeated a similar scheme in 2002, but UK Coal revived the idea this year. It would be the first new coal mine in Telford & Wrekin for decades.
Wrekin MP Mark Pritch- ard is leading opposition to the mine, along with people who do not want it - and associated traffic, noise, dust and dirt - near their homes. They fear it will cut property values and want the environment protected.
The plans cover part of an Area of Outstanding National Beauty, they say, and will affect New Works Wood and Short Wood.
Elaine Adams and her family, of New Works, today urged Telford & Wrekin Council to throw out the application.
“It will be a catastrophe for the area, not just in New Works, but people in a wide surrounding area - especia- lly the huge housing development at Lawley,” she said.
“Great swathes of beautiful countryside overlooking The Wrekin will be ravaged.”
Mr Pritchard organised the campaign meeting, at Little Wenlock Village Hall at 7pm, several months ago.
Stuart Oliver, of UK Coal, said opencast mining was not the “ogre” some people thought. Mr Oliver said company representatives would attend the meeting to seek to reassure people about the scheme.
4 Comments
The Tory M.P. who is opposed to this proposal has a clear confused policy on this issue. His party states their economic policies are greener yet as with this proposal the simple economic reality and green legitimacy for extrating this fuel is ignored to placate a few nimby’s who may by chance be tipical tory voters.lets see coalmoor,coalbrookdale I wonder why its called new works? It is a simple historical record of the idustry that dominated the area for the last 100 plus years.Effectively in my view the decision ultimately is when should this coal be mined not never. 32 months is an ammazing time scale given the enginering requiste.To suggest that this countryside is unspoilt is a nonsence that local history demonstrates.When one considers that there is already a coal burning power station in the locality the argument for this opencasting has clear legitimacy.What is of most importance in my view is what the land will be used for after and that is where the real debate should lie. I dont recall too many tory mps protesting over the original new town developments of lawleybank and overdale 20 years ago now almost complete.I do have simpathies with those residents immediately affected by this proposal however they all know the history of the area and cannot claim to be ignorantly living in utopia.
Another kick in the teeth for the residents of the area. Public consultations, opposition meetings - what is the point.
It didn’t stop English Partnerships going ahead with the redevelopment of the area, even though the residents voiced their opinion against it.
Dr Dick van Steenis has been successful in every opencast public inquiry he has taken part in.
Would Stuart Oliver be prepared to participate in a public debate with Dr Dick van Steenis regarding the health effects of exposure to PM2.5 emissions from opencasting works.
As Dr van Steenis is a medically-qualified doctor, Mr Oliver will need a medically-qualified doctor to provide expert replies to Dr van Steenis. I’m sure that Dr Catherine Woodward, of Telford & Wrekin PCT will be delighted to participate in such a public debate.
How about it Mr Oliver? Is UK Coal “up for it”? Or have you got cold feet at the prospect of being exposed in public as having no concern at all about the health effects of opencasting?
The former MEP in Derbyshire, Ken Coates, supported Dr van Steenis and was rewarded with deselection.
If residents concerned about the opencasting want the facts, then Dr Dick van Steenis is the man to give it to you straight.
As a visitor from Australia to the Wrekin in May this year I am in disbelief that anyone would consider destruction for any reason of this beautiful heritage site in Shropshire. The pattern of slaughtering land goes like this; rape the land, cover damage done with a poor attempt to reforest etc etc then a few years later rezone the area for construction as it would have completely lost the original beauty and attraction that was once an outstanding and magnificent landmark. On a more sobering note for the community is the fact that the coal industry’s most troublesome problem today is removing organic sulfur, a substance that is chemically bound to coal. All fossil fuels, such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas, contain sulfur. When these fuels are burned, the organic sulfur is released into the air where it combines with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is an invisible gas that has been shown to have adverse- effects on the quality of air we breathe. It also contributes to acid rain, an environmental problem that many scientists think adversely affects wildlife (especially fish) and forests.
Are we ever going to learn? At a time when awareness of our beautiful planet and its people under threat I just shudder. Maybe the coal industry would like to put up funding for related illnesses due to the after effects of coal mining.Put their money where their mouth is. UK has a reputation for illnesses caused by coal mining over centuries, but of course this will always be played down to the public. Perhaps a serious rethink of where the profits may ultimately end up could put some sensible balance into play or don’t they really care?