Mining firm hits back at planners
DEVELOPERS behind a proposed new coal mine on the outskirts of Newcastle say it is “rather mystifying” that the hugely contentious plans face rejection.
City councillors will decide next week whether Banks Mining can extract 800,000 tonnes of coal and 400,000 tonnes of fireclay from green belt land at Dewley Hill, near Throckley.
It emerged on Thursday that the local authority’s planning department is advising that the scheme should be rejected – saying it would be “inappropriate” in the green belt and “cannot be considered ‘environmentally acceptable’”.
Banks Group bosses have hit back at the planners’ report, saying it “makes zero
sense” to deny the North East new jobs and investment.
Environmental campaigners, on the other hand, are relieved that the “deeply damaging” surface mine plans are earmarked for refusal.
Newcastle City Council’s planning committee will rule on the plans at a hearing on Friday, December 18.
Jeannie Raine, community relations manager at The Banks Group, said: “Not only is the officers’ recommendation very disappointing, it is also rather mystifying as their report specifically recognises that there will be demand for coal and fireclay for at least the life of this site.”
She added: “Newcastle City Council published a plan this year identifying Dewley Hill as a minerals site, while the Government’s own statistics show that UK industry continues to need five million tonnes of coal each year for manufacturing raw steel and cement, as well as fireclay to make the bricks needed for the new homes, hospitals, schools and transport infrastructure that our country needs to invest in right now.”
The council received 5,068 objection letters against the Dewley Hill mine plans, plus a change.org petition with 18,953 signatures.