Planning Applications For Opencast Coal Mines

EDM number 226 in 1992-93, proposed by Gerry Steinberg on 10/06/1992.

That this House deplores the decisions taken by the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State for the Environment to approve R & A Young and H J Banks & Co's applications to opencast coal at Whitwell, north east of Bowburn, Durham and Brandon Lane, Durham, respectively; notes with dismay that the law and the Government's prejudice clearly presume in favour of opencasting regardless of the concerns, opinions and feelings of the local residents who are ignored by the Inspectors, and that health hazards, environmental damage, traffic dangers and inaccuracies by the appellants are all dismissed by the Inspectors as irrelevant and not serious; and further notes that 21 of the last 22 appeals in the North East have been upheld and demands that the Government totally revise the planning guidelines in order to protect local residents as promised by the Right honourable Member for Henley when Secretary of State for the Environment.

This motion has been signed by a total of 58 MPs.