Anger at mine plans
CAMPAIGNER CALLS FIRM ARROGANT AS IT LOOKS TO EXTRACT MORE
CAMPAIGNERS have branded an opencast mining firm arrogant after plans to expand its County Durham site were announced.
Banks Mining wants to expand and extract an extra 100,000 tonnes of coal from the its site at Pont Valley, near Consett.
If given the go-ahead, the extension to the west of the site would tie in with the ongoing operations and will be completed within the same timescale of August 2021.
Around 500,000 tonnes of coal is currently being extracted from the site, which has seen numerous protests held by activists.
Now campaigners had called the move to expand the site arrogant as the Government is currently reviewing a decision to allow the coal mining to go ahead, with Government lawyers writing to campaigners to say decision-making around the development was flawed.
Anne Harris of the Coal Action Network said: “They are wanting to expand the site and the timing of it is very interesting, given that we are waiting on decision from the Secretary of State whether planning permission will be revoked.
“It is a really arrogant thing to do. It is very, very clear the community do not want this. It is very clear they are not welcome and the community is keeping an eye on them.”
Ms Harris said claims the expansion would maintain 41 jobs on the site were not sincere as the workforce would already have jobs until the end of the operation of the existing operation. But the Banks Group said the expansion would sustain the jobs of those involved in coal extraction, coal loading and driving HGVs.
If the expansion does not go ahead, only those working in soil, overburden-handling and plant maintenance, management and security would remain on site.
Lewis Stokes, Banks Group community relations manager, said it remains committed to producing high-quality coal in the safest, fastest and most responsible way.
He added: “Being able to take the new project forward on the back of a local planning decision will mean we can complete work on the new coaling area within the same period as the existing site, and it makes clear sense to make efficient use of local mineral resources in this way rather than further increase our reliance on imports.
“We will ensure that the community is kept up-to-date with progress through our community liaison panel and other channels, and hope to be able to move this scheme forward as quickly as we can.”