Mining group hits back at canary protesters who blockaded site

A mining group has hit back at Extinction Rebellion protesters who blockaded their site, calling them “privileged” and “ill-informed”.

Four “human canaries” in wire cages were joined by dozens of other campaigners at the entrance of the Bradley opencast mine outside Dipton, County Durham.

There was a flashpoint between protesters and security staff when one tried to get under a barrier fence but was stopped from getting in, as a guard dog barked noisily beside him.

Campaigners chanted “we are nonviolent”, while the man was prevented from getting under the fence.

One of the canaries said: “If things got unsustainable for life underground, the canaries down the mine used to peg it before the miners did.

“Here we are, trying to stop the coal mine because there’s no need for coal.”

But the Banks mining company said coal was necessary for the steel and cement industries, and if it was not produced in Britain, even more would be brought in from Australia or Russia.

Mark Dowdall from the Banks Group said: “XR’s ill-conceived demands will directly exacerbate the problem they are looking to solve.

“Until viable alternatives are in place, five to six million tonnes of coal will still be needed each year in the UK as a raw material for our steel and cement industries, so that we can build muchneeded infrastructure including new wind and solar farms, houses and roads.”

Mr Dowdall added: “The privileged, ill-informed XR protestors, who are causing more disturbance to local residents than our operations ever have, would be more effective protesting against imports of Russian, American and Australian coal rather than counterproductively threatening much-needed regional investment and the livelihoods of hard-working northern families.”

Picture: PA. Extinction Rebellion campaigners want to stop the expansion of the Bradley opencast coal mine in County Durham.