Residents who fear their peaceful lives will be wrecked for years to come by a proposed opencast coal mine are lining up to give evidence at a public inquiry.

They hope to spell out to planning inspector Andrew Mead their fears about noise, dust and lorries, as well as the threat to precious countryside close to The Wrekin.

The inquiry opened yesterday at Grays Hotel in Telford.

It is due to last several weeks and is on UK Coal’s application for land at Huntington Lane, between New Works and Little Wenlock.

UK Coal wants to extract 900,000 tonnes of coal – largely destined for Ironbridge and Rugeley power stations – and 250,000 tonnes of fireclay over three years, followed by several years of restoration.

It says the scheme will create 90 jobs, boost Telford’s economy, make safe an area of derelict land riddled by old mine workings and help meet the demand for home-produced coal to create electricity.

Telford & Wrekin Council claims a mine would be against national and local planning policies, harm an area of outstanding natural beauty and a scheduled ancient monument and severely disrupt the lives of people living nearby.

More than 15 objectors have registered their desire to speak at the inquiry, with public sessions earmarked for May 19 and 21.

They include Pat Judson, of Friends of the Ercall, who said: “This is a bad idea at the wrong time in the wrong place. Too many people’s health is at risk here.”

Author and historian George Evans, president of Wellington Civic Society and All Friends Round The Wrekin, also registered a slot at the public sessions.

He said: “I’m worried about the hydrology. There are so many holes and underground passages in this area and nobody knows what will happen if they start mining again.

“I can remember an old reservoir promptly emptying the last time they were mining here and I fear further work will take water from the roots of the trees in The Wrekin Forest.”

Ishbel Walker, of New Works, said: “We moved here in 1987 and have seen off two previous bids to restart mining. This latest application is an opencast mine too far.”

First witness at the inquiry was Trevor Parkin, an Entec UK engineering and environmental consultant for UK Coal.

He said UK Coal owned a large proportion of the site under which was believed to be Telford’s last remaining economically viable source of coal.

John Steel QC, for Telford & Wrekin Council, cross-examined him closely about reserves of coal, restoration plans and a suggestion the site could ultimately be used for homes.

Asked about the £500,000 offered by UK Coal for a co- mmunity trust, he said the sum was based on tonnage of coal, similar to other schem- es around the country, and the cash would be spent “by local people for local proje- cts”.

The inquiry continues.

By Peter Johnson