Mining firm accused over Wrekin plans
Wednesday 14th April 2010, 10:27AM BST.
Part of the mining protest campsite on The Wrekin
Eco-campaigners claimed today UK Coal was acting illegally as the row over plans for an opencast mine near The Wrekin rumbles on.
UK Coal admitted this week coal could be travelling “60 or 70 miles” from the Huntington Lane site in Little Wenlock to Midlands power stations once work starts this year.
Spokesman Stuart Oliver said it was more environmentally-friendly than importing coal from Russia or Indonesia.
But campaigner Pat Judson said today the developers were in breach of the Sustainable Communities Act, which stipulates coal must travel no further than 30 miles.
He said: “We have to take issue with this statement.
“What a tragic waste to destroy this beautiful area so close to the Short Woods for a little extra coal – the most damaging means of generating electricity ever developed by humankind.
“UK Coal also made clear their true intentions by revealing that this coal will have to be transported ‘40 or 50 miles’ which is a clear breach of the Sustainable Communities Act.
“This states there should be a maximum distance of 30 miles from source to destination. Not only is UK Coal destroying a precious area of outstanding natural beauty in pursuit of climate-wrecking coal, but doing so with a flagrant disregard for the Sustainable Communities Act. Shame on them.”
But Mr Oliver said until the firm started to process the coal no decision would be taken on its destination.
“It could go somewhere like Ratcliffe Power Station in Nottingham, which I imagine is 40 or 50 miles away from Telford,” he said.
“But equally it could go to a local power station like Buildwas.
“We are not aware of any restrictions. Put it this way – if it came from Russia, or Indonesia, or Colombia, which it would have to if we did not use this site, it would have to travel hundreds of times more than that.
“Two thirds of our coal is imported and we would argue that is not sustainable in the long term.”
Campaigners who have set up camp at the site have promised to embark on a campaign of “civil disobedience” to stop the mining.
By Wayne Beese
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I was present at the inquiry when the Sustainable Communities Act was raised
“Put it this way – if it came from Russia, or Indonesia, or Colombia, which it would have to if we did not use this site, it would have to travel hundreds of times more than that.”
This subject was also covered at the inquiry. UKCoal had no arguement for the fact that the amount removed per week will be well within the load varience of the coal ships from Russia, meaning that the carbon footprint of transporting that amount of coal has already been accounted for. This also means that this coal will IN NO WAY affect the amount of coal imported from Russia or anywhere else.
Keeping on fighting folks, I’ll be up to show my support when I can!
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These people need to get a grip. Look at how The Quarry in Shrewsbury has ended up – it’s the focal point of Shrewsbury, a venue for the flower show and summer concerts. This Wrekin site will be similar in the future once the mining is complete.
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And trespassing on someones elses land and setting up a camp is legal?
Hypocrites!
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No, trespassing on someone elses land and setting up camp is not legal – nor is it a criminal act, merely a civil law one.
However, trying to get around an ACT of Parliament by devious methods in order to gain by such measures is not a civil law act, but one against the people of this nation, who voted Parliament into power to make laws to protect us.The Sustainable Communities Act is wide ranging, and looks to promote better conditions for all people locally – not the greed of a few fat cats who roll in millions from making peoples quality of life worse, just because their corporate money allows them to purchase land masses that contain National reserves, that they can , and will exploit.
Let us rember a simple thing – no -one asked UK COAL to come and put a mine applicationin this area – they chose to impose their decisionupon many thousands of people,who have lost value of their homes by at least 50 per cent to present date.
Their homes will become worthless as the mine commences, and their quality of life will reduce further.
Im pretty sure Cabo de Homos doesnt live within the 500 metre protection zone that is needed by people around this mine – but will not be imposed by Government,despite cross party requests by both our local MPs for this to be done, allowing equal treatment where opencast mining is concerned with the rest of the UK.
COTEYG
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Someting must be done to stop this now otherwise we will see an influx of these Stig of the Dump types of a magnitude not seen since the Newbury Bypass days and a shortage of cheap, over strength cider throughout the borough.
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“It could go somewhere like Ratcliffe Power Station in Nottingham, which I imagine is 40 or 50 miles away from Telford,” he said.”
Mr Oliver also needs a geography lesson if he believes Nottingham is only 40-50 Miles from Telford, try 80 mr Oliver.
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HSJP, are you seriously trying to tell us that the Quarry at shrewsbury was an open cast coal mine which has been “improved” by UK Coal? Really?
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If anyone looks at UK Coal’s Annual Reports they will see that this company has been in the habit of closing it’s deep mines and planning on turning them into housing estates and industrial parks – far more profitable than just mining coal. Mr Oliver should explain why this company has not replaced imported coal with the deep mined coal it could produce if it had not been so busy closing pits.
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H. St. John Peasbody needs to get a grip on the scale of this operation. The Dingle he speaks of is a mere dent compared to the two holes covering 240 acres (or is it hectares). To give Peasbody a better idea the coal holes would cover more than half of Telford Park
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Have you sad people nothing better to do??
Coal travelling 60 miles compared to over 1500 miles from Russia, do the maths, put your stoves away and go do something more productive, like filling up a bucket with water that has a hole in it.
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Anyone who wants to see what UK COAL class as “restoration”, should take a look at the latest article in “Private Eye” , this tells exactly what UK COAL have planned for extracted sites – and let us not forget that they have already made representation to T&W Council under the 2016 expansion plan – perhaps some of the good folk of Telford would like to ask exactly what for under a Freedom of Information request?
I suggest HSjP, gets a grip himself on reality.
COTEYG
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#10, Rod said – perhaps if Rod had been present at the Public Inquiry, when the facts and figures given by a very educated QC presented the case for carbon miles, he would not be warbling on aboy 60 miles being less harmful than 1500 from Russia.
COTEYG.
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For those who call themselves Eco-Warriors, together with the hangers-on and sympathisers read – I’ve got nothing better to do with my life and I can actually make a living out of this!
For those camping out and trying to stop the use of a valuable natural resource this is a way of life. They enjoy living this way and use the ‘eco’ tag to justify their existence. Those involved are still living the dreams of children. What an adventure, I’ll live in the woods, climb tree’s, dig holes, make booby traps, eat beans and sing around the camp fire. Still one day they will grow up…hopefully. At least once the coal is gone the site will be restored to a resemblance of natural beauty and not an unsanitary haven for misfits !
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“At least once the coal is gone the site will be restored to a resemblance of natural beauty and not an unsanitary haven for misfits !”
Try housing estate with over 300 houses!
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#13 telford Pete.
Some of us have very happy alternative lives anyway, personally, I am very happy in my 4 bed, bought outright detatched home, with a nice income,no debts, and plenty of other diversions to my well travelled life thank you.
Those of us who give up some of our comfortable life to try to prevent further devastataion of our local area, dont play at camping in the woods, we are very capable of a more comfortable existance thank you very much.
This Coal reserve is a Strategic asset for future hard times – and if you think we should use our Strategic reserves now, then Gods help us if ever such short sighted people such as yourselfs ever gain power in the Uk.
COTEYG.
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hope they build some nice 4 bed’s that we can buy outright.
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Spent some of my younger years “downt pit” in Yorkshire during the late 70s, and saved very hard over years to get the start on the property ladder that allows me to buy outright – anyone can do it, if they work hard, and are careful.
Would like somewhere with loads of land though, so I can go totally self sufficiant.
Dont think you will get a chance from UK Coal to be able to afford to buy at the prices they will want to achieve, let alone outright.
COTEYG
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