The Former Minorca Colliery
Surface Mining Scheme
Draft Proposals

Words and images by:
Site Editor: Louise Smedley-Hampson
All unauthorised reproduction prohibited

On the left: John Couling, Development Engineer and on the right, Craig Ball, Planning Manager (Surface Mines) are seen standing outside Swepstone Church Hall. The public information and consultation exhibition took place on Thursday 25th September 2008 from 3.30 pm to 7.45 pm.

A map of the proposed site plan was on show alongside moving CGI imagery. Every detail was explained as clearly as possible at this stage. The company was keen to point out that these are draft proposals and are subject to change following consultation with local people.

After the mining has finished, restoration plans have been laid in conjunction with The National Forest Scheme to create woodland and wet land, along the lines of the Sence Valley Park. Photographs were available of other areas which have been restored following surface mining.

For further details of the proposed plan, please use the link below to examine UK Coal's draft document. Any queries should be directed to www.ukcoal.com.

This poppyfield lies west of Newton and Swepstone. It will become the spoil tip for the open cast mine.

Protest meetings are organised

It has subsequently been reported in "The Coalville Times" that there is local opposition to the plans. A campaign group has already been formed in Measham and people are invited to a protest meeting on Thursday 23rd October at 7.00 pm in St Laurence's Church Hall. David Taylor MP will speak in support of the campaign (parliamentary views allowing.)

The villagers of Newton Burgoland and Swepstone have been invited to attend a meeting on Monday 3 November 2008, at 8.00 pm at The Belper Arms. Discussions will take place and it will be decided whether or not to form a pressure group.

200 people vote to oppose plans for an open cast mine in Measham

Over 200 people crowded into St Laurence Church Hall, Measham, on Thursday 23 October, to support the creation of a protest group to oppose any plans that UK Coal may have to open the Minorca site as an opencast mine. People heard David Taylor, the local MP for North West Leicestershire pledge his support for the campaign. David recounted his long experience of resisting opencast mining in North West Leicestershire. He gave the meeting guidance on how to develop arguments that could be used to oppose UK Coal’s plans.

Russell Scott-Worthington, a local resident also spoke, outlining the planning system and some of the current planning policies. He highlighted the fact that local people have only 21 days in which to formally write to Leicestershire County Council to oppose these plans once they are submitted.

Steve Leary, who was elected Chairperson of the Coordinating Committee during the meeting, invited the audience to say whether they wanted UK Coal as a neighbour. 200 people, drawn from Swepstone, Newton Burgoland, Snarestone , Normanton le Heath , Appleby Magna and all parts of Measham gave a resounding NO to that question and then moved to a formal vote to create a protest group. The vote to create the protest group was unanimous.

(Thanks to Steve Leary who wrote this press release which formed one of the main stories in The Burton Mail.)

Newton and Swepstone Village Meeting re: UK Coal Open Cast Mine Plans - The Belper Arms - Monday 3 November 2008 at 8.00 pm

James Dodds, geologist, who organised the meeting

Paul Puglsey, Chairman of The Parish Council, who was hoping to gauge the strength of local feeling regarding the proposed mine plans

Andrew Bridgen, Conservative Party Parliamentary Candidate who announced his support of any subsequent protest action

David, the Landlord at The Belper Arms kindly made the Dining Room available for the meeting at 8.00 pm, on Monday 3 November. In spite of the unpleasantly damp evening, the room was packed to the rafters with local residents and latecomers were forced to stand.

Paul Pugsley, Chairman of the Parish Council, introduced James Dodds, geologist and resident of Newton Burgoland. James organised the meeting and was its first speaker, describing how coal is mined from an open cast site. Other speakers were John Crane, solicitor, who talked about the legal requirements for planning permission. Steve Leary, the organiser of the Measham Mine Protest Group told of his involvement. Joanna Crane spoke on the impact on the environment of the mine, whilst Andrew Bridgen, Conservative Party Parliamentary Candidate announced his support of any future campaign. David Taylor MP was prevented from attending by business in the House of Commons.

After a question and answer session, questionnaires were handed out. In summary, some 65 people attended and 46 people left completed questionnaires. Of the respondents 80% were strongly opposed and about 11% were opposed.

It now needs to be decided what to do. One idea that came up was to start a “technical support group” in the village, that can help collate and disseminate technical information to the Parish Council and the Measham Group (via Joanna). The technical group can call on people in the village and their extended networks to get data and review information submitted by UK Coal; précis this information and where appropriate compile reports. Willing volunteers would be needed to read through documents; potentially type etc. This could then form the basis of objections from the Parish Council at the appropriate time.

James Dodds would be willing to chair such a group (but not run it on his own!)

Please send any comments to: <JamesDodds@jdih.co.uk>

A view of part of the crowd of locals who came to voice their protest at the plans to open the old Minorca mine as an open cast site.

Another view of the Dining Room at the Belper Arms on Monday 3 November 2008.

BBC1's Panorama picks up the story

On Monday 1st December 2008 at 20.30 hours on BBC1, Panorama will show its new documentary called "Comeback Coal", about the government's push to open new surface mining sites in the face of local opposition. See your TV Guide for further details.