Landowner target after mine U-turn

A Shropshire landowner has been targeted with a campaign of verbal abuse just hours after it was revealed he had withdrawn his objections to a controversial coal mining scheme.

Terry Beanland has withdrawn his objections to UK Coal's plans to mine next to the land owned by his company Wolverton Woodlands, near The Wrekin. He said that his concerns about UK Coal's plans for open-cast mining had been dealt with.

And he said he was now happy with agreements made between the two parties.

But Mr Beanland said residents were obviously not happy with his withdrawal.

"I had a couple of people yesterday afternoon telephone me and one person e-mail me, telling me I was a turncoat and a disgrace and they expected me to support the local people," he said.

"If it was left to local democracy we would have nothing. The comment from one person, who was very rude, was that they thought UK Coal should mine but not here," he said.

Mr Beanland said his first objection was in relation to keeping 24-hour access to his site which UK Coal had now agreed to do. He also wanted to ensure the open- cast mining did not cause any damage to his woodlands which he said had been "guaranteed".

The third objection was because he wanted to ensure that the opencast mining did not take place within 20 metres of his land, but he said he had now discovered that there was only one place which was anywhere near that. He said most of the mining was about 60 metres away from the woodland.

"This is exactly what I wanted so I'm happy," Mr Beanland added.

UK Coal chiefs welcomed Mr Beanland's withdrawal of his objections.

Stuart Oliver, spokesman for UK Coal, said: "We are aware that Mr Beanland has withdrawn his standing objection to the scheme and we are pleased that his concerns have been allayed and that he has recognised the benefits of producing coal for use locally rather than importing from Russia and the creation of jobs and long- term benefits for the community."

A six-week hearing is due to start at Telford's Grays Hotel on April 28 into the plans for Huntington Lane, which UK Coal says will stabilise an area riddled by old mine workings, create 90 jobs and help meet the national demand for coal.

Mr Beanland's company, Wolverton Woodlands, owns Short Wood, Birch Coppice, Black Hayes Wood and Limekiln Wood.