Residents to hit UK Coal with demands
People living near the site of a planned opencast mine in Shropshire are to bombard coal bosses with a list of demands to safeguard their quality of life. People living near the site of a planned opencast mine in Shropshire are to bombard coal bosses with a list of demands to safeguard their quality of life. More than 30 people attended an open meeting of Little Wenlock Parish Council last night. They were discussing a controversial decision by the Secretary of State announced last week to allow the mine at Huntington Lane, near the Wrekin in Telford. The planning permission to mine 900,000 tonnes of coal and 250,000 tonnes of fireclay is subject to a string of conditions, covering areas like noise, air quality, blasting and vibration. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
More than 30 people attended an open meeting of Little Wenlock Parish Council last night.
They were discussing a controversial decision by the Secretary of State announced last week to allow the mine at Huntington Lane, near the Wrekin in Telford.
The planning permission to mine 900,000 tonnes of coal and 250,000 tonnes of fireclay is subject to a string of conditions, covering areas like noise, air quality, blasting and vibration.
In addition, residents will demand structural surveys are carried out on every property before work commences at the site to establish if any damage to homes is caused once mining gets under way.
They will also ask UK Coal to underwrite any devaluation of property.
Speaking after the meeting, parish council clerk John Marcham said residents were willing to work with UK Coal and Telford & Wrekin Council.
"UK Coal have said they want to be a good neighbour and we now plan to put that to the test," he added
Stuart Oliver, of UK Coal, said a liaison committee would be set up to discuss the requests.
He said it would also be responsible for making grants from a £500,000 community trust fund which would be established.
