We wonder if any of your older readers can assist us with some memories of Joseph Williams and Son, former coal traders who were in business in Oswestry between 1885 and 1960?
Firefighters were called to an unusual fire after an old coal slag heap caught fire underground. Firefighters were called to an unusual fire after an old coal slag heap caught fire underground. A man digging land to make room for two bungalows in Telford unearthed the coal, which caught fire. Firefighters were called to Cemetery Road in Dawley Bank, Telford, yesterday after the builder discovered the smoking coals. He told firefighters he was not aware of the old slag heap before setting out to work. He told them he suddenly saw steam coming from the ground and felt an intense heat.[24link]
Campaigners were this afternoon evicted from the site of a massive new mine in Telford after defying UK Coal bosses for 18 months.
Three weeks after UK Coal was granted an order to evict protesters from their site at Huntington Lane, the camp remains. Take a look at the latest scenes.
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. 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.
Protesters fighting plans to mine 900,000 tonnes of coal in Shropshire will appear in court tomorrow in a bid to fight a planned eviction.
UK Coal today said it would be heading to court to get an order to evict protesters from the company's mining site in Telford. UK Coal today said it would be heading to court to get an order to evict protesters from the company's mining site in Telford. The company, which owns the land at New Works, near the Wrekin, needs a court judgement to remove the protesters who set up camp there last year in their fight against plans to mine 900,000 tonnes of coal. The protesters have several tents, lookout points and tunnels at the site. [24link]
??Police were called to UK Coal's mine in Telford today after protesters ran onto the site and chained themselves to diggers. ??Police were called to UK Coal's mine in Telford today after protesters ran onto the site and chained themselves to diggers. There were dramatic scenes when two of the campaigners ran onto the New Works mining site at about 7am and used bicycle locks to attach themselves by their necks to the machines. Two of the protesters were arrested while others were escorted off the site by police and security guards. The campaigners, who have been living in a makeshift camp at the site since March last year, are fighting plans by UK Coal to mine 900,000 tonnes of coal.
Mining company UK Coal has granted a reprieve to a grieving Shropshire grandmother ordered to quit her home next to a giant opencast site in Telford this summer. Mining company UK Coal has granted a reprieve to a grieving Shropshire grandmother ordered to quit her home next to a giant opencast site in Telford this summer. Lynn and Stanley Cain had vowed to stay put in the house until they could find a suitable new home as they were having to cope with the death of their daughter-in-law, who sadly died from a brain tumour on April 15. The tragedy has left the Cains having to help their son by looking after their two young grandchildren, who are aged five and nine. UK Coal today said it sympathised with the Cains' plight and the couple would now not have to leave their home until next year. [24link]
UK Coal is to press ahead with plans to mine thousands of tonnes of coal in Shropshire despite recording massive losses for the second consecutive year. UK Coal is to press ahead with plans to mine thousands of tonnes of coal in Shropshire despite recording massive losses for the second consecutive year. The firm wants to extract 900,000 tonnes of coal and 250,000 tonnes of fire clay from Huntington Lane, between New Works and Little Wenlock, despite widespread opposition from local residents. And despite its latest results showing losses of more than £100 million for the last year, a UK Coal spokesman said it would not affect the plans, and that surface mining was key to turning around the company's fortunes.
A SHROPSHIRE GRANDMOTHER has been given three months to leave her home by developers UK Coal - despite looking after her three grandchildren as her daughter-in-law battles a brain tumour. A SHROPSHIRE GRANDMOTHER has been given three months to leave her home by developers UK Coal - despite looking after her three grandchildren as her daughter-in-law battles a brain tumour. Lynn and Stanley Cain have been told by bosses at the firm that they will be evicted from their home on New Works Lane in Telford, next to a site currently being mined. Mrs Cain, 57, said the eviction could not have come at a worse time as she was caring for her three grandchildren while her 26-year-old daughter-in-law was in hospital fighting a brain tumour. Full story in the Shropshire Star
A Telford resident who has been told to leave his home within two months has labelled landlords UK Coal as "heartless".
A Shropshire couple have labelled bosses at UK Coal "heartless" after being given just two months to vacate their home next to a controversial open cast mine in Telford. A Shropshire couple have labelled bosses at UK Coal "heartless" after being given just two months to vacate their home next to a controversial open cast mine in Telford. Anne Cotton and Gerald Cooper have been ordered by their landlords to pack their belongings and get out of their New Works Lane property in Lawley, as the mining company looks to clear corporate debt. The devastated couple say they have nowhere to turn after living in the house for more than eight years. UK Coal today apologised for having to sell off the house but added they had identified 60 other homes nationwide where lease holders could face the same fate. Mrs Cotton, 50, said they were devastated at the thought of being kicked out of the house at such short notice and accused the company of cowardice by not contacting them directly. Full story in today's paper
The first coal has been mined from the foot of the Wrekin, it was confirmed today. The first coal has been mined from the foot of the Wrekin, it was confirmed today. And UK coal bosses said the first lorry load of coal could be leaving the open cast mine, near Telford, to fuel power stations by the end of the year. The firm said it had already found a coal seam on the site in Little Wenlock, near The Wrekin, and had started to extract the fossil fuel.
Officials have dismantled treehouses on the site of a planned opencast coalmine near Telford and stopped protesters from rebuilding them, it was revealed today.
