UK Coal 'should pay' for study

A councillor has today added her voice to calls for the company bidding to mine 900,000 tonnes of coal near The Wrekin to pay for a health impact study, it emerged today.

Councillor Angela McClements, Telford & Wrekin Council member for Arleston, said dust fallout from opencast mines may be linked to asthma and other respiratory problems, and health implications should be understood before the application is considered.

But UK Coal has already resisted calls from Mark Pritchard, The Wrekin MP, to pay for a health impact study, saying extensive nationwide research by Newcastle University found surface mining poses no risk to public health.

Councillor McClements's call comes as Telford & Wrekin Council considers a planning application from UK Coal to begin mining land near New Works, Lawley.

Councillor McClements, who claims her ward could be affected by dust from the site, said: "I'm not at all convinced by UK Coal's claim there are no links to diseases from dust fallouts from open cast mining.

"I fully support calls by local campaigners for UK Coal to foot the bill for an independent health impact assessment to be carried out.

"Indeed, our local primary care trust have also requested there's a need for a health impact assessment and I will continue to fight hard to ensure one is carried out before the application goes before the plans board.

"I represent more than 2,000 electors whose health could potentially be affected by opencast mining.

"Due to the prevailing winds, it is clear the ward of Arleston will be significantly affected by dust and pollution, if this planning application is allowed to go ahead.

"It is therefore imperative we all understand the health implications before this application is considered.

"I understand in other areas where opencast mining has taken place there is evidence to suggest there has been a considerable increase in new cases of asthma, as well as exacerbating those who already have it."

She added that Shortwood Primary School was within one mile of the air flow.

By Tom Johannsen