Opencast Mine

Back in October I wrote a few words about the proposed development of a coal mine near Whittonstall. Northumberland County Council has agreed to hold a public meeting about the proposal on Thursday 17th January from 6pm-8pm at St. John's Church Hall, Snod's Edge. As you can see from the flier below, this is your last chance to register opposition to the project. A planning decision will follow within a few weeks.

If you live in Stocksfield, Mickley, or the surrounding settlements of  Kipperlynn, Apperley, Hindley, Broomley and Wheelbirks then you really should make every attempt to attend this meeting as the mining operation could have an adverse effect on where you live.

Even if you don't want to say anything at the meeting, just being there will show support.

Coals to Newcastle? No thanks.

Because it's all happening "over there" in Whittonstall, the plans to open an opencast mine might not have featured large in the thoughts of residents of the Stocksfield and Broomhaugh division. However, as the Whittonstall Action Group's web site shows us, there is plenty of scope for detrimental impact on the surrounding areas far beyond the limits of Whittonstall itself. If you want to see how the opencast mine might affect where you live, have a look at the action group's map and click on the names of nearby villages to see what could happen. Think about it. A mine produces coal. All that coal has to get FROM the mine to wherever it's going, and that is going to happen by lorries driving to and from Whittonstall servicing the site.

Furthermore, whilst the current plans are to mine at Whittonstall, if they are approved further plans are sure to follow which would see mining extended scouring the countryside around Hedley and High Mickley for some time to come.

It's not too late to stop these plans. If you haven't already done so, I encourage you to write to the County Council expressing your objections. Whittonstall Action Group have provided a handy information sheet on how to do this, so please, take a few minutes and get writing. You can even email your objections which makes it even easier.