Archived press release

End the 'smash and grab' of opencast coal mining say local communities

31 October 1997

Over one hundred and twenty community groups across Britain have joined forces to campaign against the environmental destruction and social deprivation caused by opencast coal mining. The groups have all been taking part in a week of action, which ends on Saturday with protests at key greenfield sites where opencast developments have been proposed [1]. Today (Friday 31 October) is the final day for submissions for the first stage of a Government review of opencast coalmining [2].

Opencast mining - which now accounts for over a third of UK coal output - has a devastating impact on local communities and their environment, as companies strive to produce ever cheaper coal [3]. However, the cost is high for the thousands of people who have to live with the consequences of environmental degradation, pollution, noise and falling house prices [4]. Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to tackle the problem and change planning policy in favour of the communities who are victims of this runaway industry [5].

Tim Sander from Chesterfield FOE said:
"The lives of thousands of ordinary people are being made a total misery by opencast coal mining. 'Moonscapes' have been created on their doorstep and concerns about health impacts are commonplace. In some areas, house prices have fallen by thousands of pounds. The Government must take action now to end this highly damaging smash and grab industry".

The opencast review was announced by the Labour Government earlier this year, and follows on from promises made when in opposition. However, Labour's commitment to change planning policy to have a 'presumption against' opencast appears to have been ditched [6].

FOE has produced a detailed press briefing on the issue of opencast.

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NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1]Contacts for groups coordinating actions are:
ScotlandMandy MeikleSOAG/FOE Scotland
North EastHoward Armstrong NE Opencast Action Group
DerbyshireTim SanderChesterfield FOE
MidlandsBob BrewinMidlands Against Opencast
WalesRoy JonesSwansea FOE

[2] A consultation paper to review opencast coal planning policy was launched earlier this year. The paper for England was released on July 30th and for Scotland on August 18th. Both have a deadline of 31 October for representations to be submitted. The paper for Wales was released on September 15th; the deadline for representations is December 5th. There are two phases to the review: one on Labour's '10 point plan' which will lead to interim planning guidance by the end of 1997, and a second phase to fully review Mineral Plan Guidance note 3 (MPG3) in 1998. It is unclear why the Government has not simply chosen to review MPG3 now.

[3] This year total UK coal industry output totalled 48.2 million tonnes, of which approximately 16 million tonnes (a third) is opencast coal. Source: Coal Authority 1997.

[4]Residents living near the Brynhenllys site in South Wales fear that opencast may have slashed the combined value of properties by up to 20 million, and are now seeking compensation from Celtic Energy. Coincidentally Celtic Energy are seeking 20 million compensation from the German Government for its subsidy of German coal. Contact local campaigner: Hywel Gwyn Evans .

[5]Friends of the Earth wants to see a 'presumption against' opencast enshrined in planning policy. A 'presumption against' would end opencasting in all but the most exceptional circumstances. It would mean that the burden of proving the environmental,social and economic case for opencast would fall on developers, ensuring coalfield communities are no longer easy prey to this runaway industry.

[6]In 1991 Labour produced a document 'Open cast coalmining - too high a price?'which promised an 11 point plan, including a commitment to change the law and practice in relation to opencast. This has now become a 10 point plan: the point that has disappeared is a promise to change planning policy to have a presumption against opencast
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