UK Coal wins battle to evict Telford mining protesters

Bosses at UK Coal who are mining 900,000 tonnes of coal from a Shropshire beauty spot today won their court battle to evict protesters from the site.

The company was granted the order at Telford County Court this morning for the eviction of the protesters from the site at Huntington Lane, near The Wrekin.

UK Coal was granted permission to mine 900,000 tonnes of coal from the site despite objections from residents and campaigners.

But in January last year, a small group of protesters set up camp on the site.

The protesters now have several tents, living quarters and lookout points at the camp which is manned 24- hours a day in their bid to fight the mining work.

Edward Gamble, for UK Coal, told the court the land belonged to the company, along with Harwood Estates (Agricultural Land) Ltd and Telford farmer James Roberts.

Protester Ben Hartley asked the court for a three-week extension to review the case, but Deputy District Judge Martin Edden refused on the grounds they were given two days notice about the hearing, as required by law.

Judge Edden then granted UK Coal permission to evict the protesters.

Outside court, David Bolton, surface mine manager for UK Coal, said the company was pleased with the decision but added that no eviction date had been set.

He added: "If unfortunately we have to spend money to go in and remove them, we will. Then the police will have their actions to take."

Speaking outside court, a resident living near the site, who did not wish to be named, said: "It is a really good decision and it's a shame it took so long."