Villagers say no to mining plan

Villagers from Little Wenlock have voted overwhelmingly against plans for a huge opencast mine close to Shropshire's landmark hill.

A special meeting of the parish council will now be held to formulate a detailed objection to UK Coal's plans.

The controversy is over a planning application to mine 900,000 tonnes of coal from farmland at Huntington and New Works on the eastern side of The Wrekin.

The coal would be extracted over 32 months and destined for power stations at Ironbridge and Rugeley.

UK Coal says lorries would be going to and from the site six days a week, with 90 jobs created.

An environmental statement has been submitted in which UK Coal outlines how it will avoid ecological damage and disruption to residents. But all this has failed to convince critics.

Opponents include Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard and Wellington Civic Society who fear the scheme threatens some of Shropshire's most precious countryside.

Little Wenlock Parish Council has already lodged a holding objection and has organised a survey around the parish.

Councillor Pat Hutchings said: "We covered the whole Little Wenlock area and got 135 responses and 92 per cent were against mining."

An extraordinary meeting of the parish council will be held in Little Wenlock Village Hall at 8.30pm on Monday when councillors will prepare a detailed response.