Controversial plans to extract more than 900,000 tonnes of coal from sites in Shropshire have been revived – four years after they were dropped in the face of public outcry.

UK Coal hopes to submit plans for open-cast mines in countryside to the east of The Wrekin in May or June.

In 2002 the company dropped similar plans, saying they were no longer financially viable, after opposition from the public and Telford & Wrekin Council.

It is now planning public exhibitions of its new plans for late March or April. It hopes this will prevent similar opposition.

But Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard and some residents have already come out against the proposals for the land off New Works Road and Huntingdon Road.

They fear the work, which would involve mining over a period of 33 months, will mean losing countryside and wildlife and affect residents’ quality of life.

Mr Pritchard has written to residents around the area to start a protest against the plans.

“I will be opposing UK Coal’s plans as the New Works area is completely unsuitable for mining,” he said.

“There is the impact on the local environment, wildlife, the huge increase in HGV lorries to think about, as well as the impact on the quality of life for the many people who now live in the area.”

He claims part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will be lost along with trees at New Works Wood.

The Tory MP has started a petition against the plans on his website at www.markpritchard.com

Plans were originally put forward for the area in the 1990s by UK Coal forerunner RJB Mining.

They were rejected by Telford & Wrekin then, after appeal, by the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. The company eventually withdrew.

Stuart Oliver, for UK Coal, today said prices had now more than doubled and the new proposals would offer better protection for the environment.

He added: “There are material changes and added environmental benefits.”

Mr Oliver said the company hoped to allay any fears about the work through the public consultations.

By Dave West