Opencast mine protesters
planning permission to start work on have revised their energy policy the site, which involves construction and plan to phase out coal-fired work under the verge and widening the power stations by 2025. Now, in 2018, it road to form an entrance to the site. makes no sense to subject such a beautiful
He added: “The protest camp is area to the detrimental effects of located directly where this work needs opencasting.” to be completed. We have asked the Campaigners also claim to have discovered protestors to move but, as they have an endangered species of newt failed to do so, the police and the council on the land, something strongly contested are using our powers to remove by The Banks Group. obstructions to the highway in order to Mike Brand, from the Pont Valley allow work to commence.” Protection Camp, said: “This week,
The A692 remains closed between great crested newts were found on the the Jolly Drovers and the junction with site, supporting the 30 years of evidence the A693 for public safety, but it is of their presence. believed that the authorities are “Given Banks Group’s tight hoping the road can be reopened deadline to start digging by in time for a June 3, it seemed very nearby funeral in the convenient they have afternoon. argued there are no
Chief Inspector protected great Richie Allen, of Dur- crested newts.” ham Constabulary, Lewis Stokes, said: “We would like community relations to apologise for the manager at continued disruption The Banks Group, caused by this said: “Extensive surveys operation, but safety of the natural remains absolutely paramount, environment are carried for the protesters, the out by independent ecologists wider community and police, and as part of the development council workers at the scene. of all Banks Group sites, so that an
“We are allowing the protesters’ legal accurate picture of any resident species advisors and media spokespeople and habitats can be formed. access to the area and we have made “In the case of the Bradley site, a an alternative site nearby where other range of ecological surveys have been protesters can exercise their right to carried out over a number of years peaceful protest”. across all different aspects of the local
June Davison, who lives in Dipton, environment said: “My community has been fighting “These included extensive surveys of the threat of opencast coal extraction all ponds on the site over 2017, using for over 30 years. In that time we’ve Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling won three public inquiries and three and terrestrial refuge assessment, inspectors have agreed that protecting which found no evidence of any great the Pont Valley is important. The Government crested newts.”