Northumberland residents face yet another coal fight

Aug 27 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal

UK Coal is anticipating submitting a planning application for a “much smaller” scheme than the NCB proposals rejected over 30 years ago.

Project manager Richard Corey said: “The scaled-down proposals will take account of the reasons the larger scheme was rejected, and will include a wide range of measures to protect surrounding communities and the environment.

“Britain today only produces about a third of the coal used for power generation and none of the coal use for steel production. Coal that can be recovered from Hoodsclose in an environmentally acceptable way will displace imports, create well paid jobs and provide a boost for the local and regional economy.

“The quality of our restoration work has been acclaimed throughout the coalfield areas, and it would be our intent to return the land to agricultural with enhanced nature conservation and landscape features once the energy resource has been extracted.”

The proposed site is in Northumberland but just one mile from the County Durham border. Durham County Councillor Watts Stelling said: “My concern will be huge coal wagons will be trundling along country roads and through Durham villages like Ebchester, Low Westwood, Hamsterley, Leadgate and Lanchester. The noise, dust and danger would be intolerable.”

Stocksfield parish councillor Helen Morris said: “Until we see the proposal from UK Coal and attend any meetings they may schedule for the surrounding villages I am unable to comment.”

Meanwhile archeologists have started digging in a bid to unearth the historic past of the site.

A series of shallow trenches will be dug over the coming weeks on the land to determine whether any evidence exists of “culturally important history”.

The work will be carried out by archaeologists from the University of Durham. Their findings will be included in an environmental assessment being compiled by UK Coal in the preparation of the planning application.