Fears that a proposed opencast mine near The Wrekin 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.

But UK Coal spokesman Stuart Oliver said it was not needed. In 2003, he said, Newcastle University published a report in the academic journal Social Science and Medicine, and the findings had been agreed by a Department of Health expert committee.

Mr Oliver said: “The report stated: ‘Although many parents were initially concerned about risks to their children’s respiratory health from air pollution, their worries were not realised. 

“In fact, a separate study of children’s health carried out at the same locations showed there were no links between dust levels from the mining and asthma’.

“We didn’t have a vested interest in the outcome because we didn’t fund it.”

By Peter Johnson