PR 2012-3 25/7/12
NEW THREAT OF OPENCAST MINING NEAR NORMANTON
Recent research, undertaken for the Loose Anti Opencast Network (LAON), has revealed that some communities across England are facing the prospect of an opencast mine application in their locality within five years. The communities of Normanton, Agbrigg and Sharlston could be affected by such an application. In addition Wakefield Council, currently objecting to a proposal for an opencast mine on the Dearne Lea site in West Clayton, may soon be facing an application for an opencast mine in its own area.
UK Coal plc is in the process of selling of 8 tracts of land across the country. The particulars attached to the sale documentation for each site include the following details:
“An opportunity to acquire an agricultural property portfolio with strategic coal reserves, sold with the benefit of an option agreement for UK Coal Surface Mining to work the coal. All the sites in this portfolio are included within UK Coals five year planning program for surface mining.”
One of the sites for sale involves land off Hell Lane near Normanton (1). UK Coal plc, a Company which is millions of pounds in debt and in danger of failing, is trying to raise money by encouraging investors into a joint venture whereby UK Coal gain some money up front to offset its debt mountain. The sites were put up for sale in February (2) and so far two sites have been sold. The Normanton site is still,it seems, under offer.
The Loose Anti Opencast Network consists of individuals and groups who work together to oppose actual and proposed opencast mine applications. We also try to alert local people to the prospect of them having to face an opencast mine application and help them to prepare for that eventuality. If any individual or group wants further information about LAON then contact infoatlaon@yahoo.com
References
1) For details about the site particulars off Hell Lane see
http://www.smithsgore.co.uk/property-for-sale-south-yorkshire-2320118
2) Farmers Weekly ‘Farmland includes potential coal income’ (1/2/12) @
http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/01/02/2012/131241/Farmland-includes-potential-coal-income.htm
3) Nottingham Post “Multi-million pound deal to sell hundreds of acres of farmland” (18/7/12)
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Multi-million-pound-deal-sell-hundreds-acres/story-16553510-detail/story.html
For more information on this press release please contact Steve Leary, Co-ordinator, LAON at
Infoatlaon@yahoo.com