Concerns over opencast mine scars
Fears damaged landscapes might not be restored
THE giant wounds on the landscape left by dozens of opencast coal mines across Scotland may never be healed under plans being considered by Scottish ministers. Community and environment groups say the Scottish Government is preparing to let coal companies break promises to restore defunct mines, in order to help the deeply troubled industry.
Scottish Coal said last month that because of financial difficulties it was axeing 450 of its 758 workforce, and closing four of its nine opencast pits. ATH Resources, which operating five mines in Scotland, went into administration in December.
The Scottish Government told the Sunday Herald its industry deregulation guru, Professor Russel Griggs, was leading a working group “to explore issues affecting the Scottish coal industry”. Among issues under review was “the restoration of future opencast coal sites”.
Griggs, who chairs the Scottish Government’s Regulatory Review Group, has been asked by Energy Minister Fergus Ewing to brief MSPs on progress. The briefing is to take place at Holyrood on Wednesday.
Dr Richard Dixon, director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, pointed out that communities affected by opencast mining had been assured that the huge holes, heaps and dirt tracks would be cleaned up. minister, Claudia Beamish MSP, said communities had a right to expect opencast mines to be restored.
“We need to be wary of accepting a situation where this obligation is relaxed and scaled back,” she said. “While we will listen to Professor Griggs’ work on the broad issues affecting the coal industry, we are clear that this work must not come at the expense of the environmental concerns of communities affected.”
The Scottish Government said the working group headed up by Griggs involved stakeholders across the coal industry.
“This Government is doing all it can to protect Scotland’s coal industry, and that includes looking at the best ways of sustaining opencast coal sites,” said a Government spokeswoman.
“We are working with local authorities, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, landowners and coal operators to ensure the best restoration outcome of legacy sites for the communities directly and indirectly involved.”
Scottish Coal confirmed it was working with the Government to address challenges facing the industry. “We greatly appreciate the support that has been offered in dealing with these challenges,” said a spokesman. “And we are doing all we can to ensure that a sustainable mining industry is preserved.”