Hope for opponents of Haltwhistle opencast mine plans
Nov 26 2009 by Brian Daniel, The Journal
COUNCILLORS who will decide the fate of controversial plans for an opencast mine in Northumberland countryside are being advised to reject the bid.
Northumberland County Council’s planning and environment committee is being recommended to refuse HM Project Developments’ application for land beside Halton Lea Gate, near Haltwhistle, when it meets next week.
Last night people living in the tiny village said they hoped councillors would follow that recommendation.
HM Project Developments is seeking to excavate 140,000 tonnes of coal from a 29-hectare site within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) over three and a half years.
But a report to the committee, which meets next Tuesday, reveals there has been 88 letters of opposition from members of the public and a score of objections from consultees.
The North Pennines AONB Partnership has objected, as has Hartleyburn Parish Council, Natural England, the RSPB and the Environment Agency.
Opposition has been mounted on a number of issues including the impact on the AONB and a nearby Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The land is also home to a number of bird sanctuaries, endangered species, otters, grouse and newts.
There are also concerns over dust, noise and light pollution, and impact on people’s homes, health, road safety and archaeological heritage.
Having considered those objections, council planning officers are recommending refusal for two reasons.
They say the claimed benefits of the proposal would not be sufficient to outweigh the potential environmental effects on the AONB and an area of attractive upland landscape close to residential properties, in terms of landscape and visual impact.
The council also says insufficient information has been submitted to enable a full assessment of the impacts on features of the SSSI and other designated sites nearby, or on the ecology of the site.
Last night, Nick Kennon, chairman of the North Pennines Protection Group and resident of Halton Lea Gate, who is to speak at next week’s meeting at Morpeth’s County Hall, said: “On behalf of the communities affected by this, we trust that Northumberland County Council planning will make the right decision based on the evidence and objections that have been received to date and that decision will be to refuse planning permission for this development.
“If this is so, we look forward to our community being once again secure in the knowledge that we live in a very nice place and enjoy the surroundings we live in.“
Neither HM Project Developments nor agents Blackett, Hart and Pratt returned The Journal’s calls yesterday.
We trust that Northumberland County Council planning will make the right decision based on the evidence and objections received
