Fears over Wrekin mining protest tunnels

A HONEYCOMB OF tunnels dug under The Wrekin by anti-coal protesters could cave in and seriously injure walkers, it was claimed today.

It is also feared the network of tunnels could be releasing methane from the gas-rich coal which could poison visitors. The warnings were sounded by experts on a local liaison committee.

They also said the double-edged danger was putting the green campaigners themselves at risk.

The Shropshire Star revealed in May how protesters in a makeshift camp had spent weeks digging a network of tunnels under the Huntington Lane coal site near Little Wenlock.

They claimed it would stop UK Coal from bringing diggers onto the site and starting work to mine 900,000 tonnes of coal for fear of the tunnels collapsing and injuring someone.

Irresponsible

Chris Crouch, spokesman for UK Coal, branded the action at the time "irresponsible". Now the Huntington Lane Community Liaison Committee, made up of parishioners and representatives of both Telford & Wrekin Council and UK Coal, has voiced its safety fears over the digging.

Little Wenlock Parish Council clerk John Marcham said: "We are aware that the protesters on the site are tunnelling into the ground there and into the old workings.

"The concern expressed by the experts on the committee was that, firstly, nobody knows exactly where these tunnels are or how near the surface they are.

"There is a danger anyone walking in that area could be seriously injured if a tunnel collapsed beneath them.

"Secondly, the site has historically very gaseous coal and there could be a danger of the tunnelling causing methane to leak out.

"The consequences pose a threat not only to people walking on the site but also to the tunnellers. We are not saying people should keep away from the site, only that they should be aware of the possible danger."

Mr Marcham has published the committee's warnings in the latest issue of the Little Wenlock Community News newsletter.

One protester, who did not want to be named, has said previously campaigners put their lives at risk by tunnel-ling, but added: "The tun- nels are a very effective way to defend a piece of land."

By Simon Hardy