Mining firm UK Coal is offering major incentives in bid to clinch opencast deal
A mining firm looking to win support for its opencast plans is offering the biggest package of financial incentives and environmental safeguards seen in the UK.
UK Coal is seeking permission from Leicestershire County Council to extract 1.5 million tonnes of coal and fireclay from its former Minorca colliery site, off Gallows Lane, near Measham.
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MP Andrew Bridgen
The plans were submitted last summer, but the county planning authority told the firm to go away and come back with detailed extra information addressing environmental concerns raised about the proposal before a decision could be made.
This information has now been submitted to the council, paving the way for a decision on the mine to be made by September.
The 600-page document says if approved it will generate £9 million a year in the area's economy over four years.
However, campaigners have accused the firm of offering an "inducement" to give permission.
UK Coal spokesman Stuart Oliver said: "It has been compiled by a range of independent experts and covers everything from noise, dust, ecology, geology and hydrology relating to the operation of the site.
"The supplementary package is the most comprehensive ever submitted for a surface mining application in the UK – not just by us, but by anyone."
It includes the offer of £1.28 million, in payment or in kind, towards restoration work on the county council's Ashby Canal restoration project at Measham.
In addition, UK Coal is offering to build a winter water storage lake to alleviate flooding problems in the area. The firm said it will also provide a £150,000 fund to be spent on other environmental and community projects in the area.
Mr Oliver said: "We have gone that extra mile to address fully the issues that have been raised.
"The scheme will also create 50 jobs during the four-year life of the mine and it's been calculated will contribute over £9 million to the area's economy – including a significant contribution to business rates in a time of recession."
The Minorca Opencast Protest Group (MOPG), which was set up to oppose the mine, is now set to hold an emergency meeting to consider the latest submissions.
Spokesman Steve Leary said: "What UK Coal is offering is roughly £1.14 for each tonne of coal mined, which is quite incredible.
"Is this application really so poor that they have to offer this amount of money? It's basically an inducement."
Residents have 21 days to comment on the new information provided by UK Coal.
North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen, who is campaigning for a change in the law to provide a 500-metre buffer zone between new mines and homes, said: "Whilst I support a determination of the application as soon as possible, I think the residents should have more time to assess whether their objections have been answered and to consider their responses for the second round of consultations."
To view the plans and to comment on them, go to:
www.leics.gov.uk
12 Comments
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by Romain, Measham
Friday, August 20 2010, 6:34PM
“I am sorry, but a company in dire situation cannot be trusted to set aside some money to restore a site in 5 years. They need their cash flow as any company. Therefore, there is no guarantee that the site will be returned to its original state.
Also, how can they afford £1.2 million? That's a mystery. They are just trying to bribe the local residents!”
by Ian Wood, Measham (300 metres from a potential hellhole!!)
Monday, August 02 2010, 10:46PM
“Why do we have to have our lives ruined and the health of our families put at risk just so that UK Coal can line their greedy pockets. My son is 6 months old and if this opencast goes ahead he faces a significantly increased risk of lung disease later on in life, if there was not a risk thev local school would not be considered a "sensitive receptor". My son and all the other children of Measham deserve better than this and Leicestershire County Council have a duty to protect them above anything else, and they can do this by simply refusing the application. The bribe of £1.2m towards the canal and scare mongering about "lights out" does not and will never be reasons to justify the risk to the health of our children. UK Coal get the message "WE DO NOT WANT YOUR OPENCAST" not now or ever!!”
by Phil Owen, Measham
Friday, July 30 2010, 5:09PM
“Interesting to note, about the 50 Jobs and keeping the lights burning, well the hard facts is that these Jobs are for skilled workers, and will have to travell as much as50-60 miles each mainly daily, adding to the already busy roads, and for what the destruction of prime agriculture land, road,dust and light polution.Potential polluting the rivers and brooks, endangering the ressidents and the school children, not to mention the wildlife, "For What" 2 months of Coal for the second biggest polluting Power Station in the Country. Lets keep this in prospective. Its unsafe its dangerous and certainly not required for the Heart Of The National forest. A more permantent solution would be wind Turbines not a short term fix .”
by Steve, Measham
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 4:46PM
“Hello Old King Coal
UK Coal could reopen Harworth pit in Yorkshire rather than keep spending £3m a year keeping it mothballed. In one year that would produce more coal than the Minorca Surface Mine will produce over its lifetime.
No, we are not all 'Birmignham Nimbies' (and casting slurs on people's motives is a cheap form of debate). We have 300 members in MOPG - a very mixed membership from old ex Coalminers through to Solicitors, many of whom are local born and bred.
As for 'doing no harm' look at what UK Coal have not done outside Ashby, at the Lounge site, classed as 'derelict' by a Planning Inspector becuase UK Coal have not honoured the planning obligation they entered into to restore it. No harm - pull the other leg”
by GRAHAM STOCKS - VICE-CHAIRMAN, LEICESTERSHIRE CPRE, LE12 8XT
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 3:45PM
“UK Coal just don't get it, do they? The north-western boundary of this unsustainable proposal will only be 175 metres or so away from the houses in Measham's Greenfield Road and within coughing and spitting distance of the primary school. Earth bunding around the proposal site doesn't actually make all that much difference to noise as sound tends to refract over the top. If this travesty is allowed to go ahead it will be hell for Measham, particularly the eastern side of the village. Let's hope that Leicestershire County Council recognises the need to reduce fossil carbon emissions and that those voting on this proposal on our behalf have the wit to see through the flim-flam. Also, since this is a major application, residents should be allowed more than 21 days to weigh up the colossal amount of printed material UK Coal have added to their original application file. I would guess that is the plan though - who on Earth can wade through this amount of information after a day's work and taking care of family matters? I guess councillors must be superhuman...”