Bosses behind a controversial coal mining development near Telford have been urged to make sure there are “local jobs for local people”.

Paul Kalinauckas, Labour parliamentary candidate for The Wrekin at the last election, was one of hundreds who campaigned against the development at Huntington Lane, New Works. Green campaigners are currently staying in a camp at the site in a bid to stop work going ahead.

But Mr Kalinauckas said people should accept it would happen – and he is now trying to make sure local firms and people looking for work profit from it when it does.

He said: “Despite the overwhelming opposition to open cast coal mining in the shadow of the Wrekin, UK Coal won the legal battle to press ahead with the development.

“This means that there will be contracts available to local firms for fencing, security, waste management and infrastructure development.

“I want to see local jobs for local people and have called on UK Coal to give local businesses a fair crack of the whip by ensuring they are included in any tendering opportunities for contracts of work.

“We don’t want to see dumper truck drivers being bussed in from outside the county when we have many skilled operatives locally.”

UK Coal spokesman Stuart Oliver said it was “normal practice” for the developers to utilise local services, as and when they met requirements.

He said jobs were likely to be available locally in the areas of heavy machinery, security and back-up teams.

“The value to the local community from this site when it is producing coal for 32 months will run into several millions of pounds.

“In terms of goods and services we will be buying from the local community in addition to the pay of employees. We don’t know exactly how many people will be employed locally but it will be a significant proportion of the total.”

Mr Oliver said UK Coal had also made a commitment to set up a £100,000 community fund with cash for good causes and groups.

By Wayne Beese