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Go-ahead urged for coalmining project near to nature reserve
CONTROVERSIAL plans to allow a site near a leading West Yorkshire nature reserve to be mined for coal could be approved by councillors when they meet next week.
Council officers are recommending that the project to mine 875,000 tonnes of coal at a site near Fairburn Ings, near Ledston, south-east of Leeds, is given the go-ahead.
If approved the site would be mined for just over five years.
The plans by Banks Developments for land off Back Newton Lane have been fought bitterly for more than two years by residents and environment campaigners.
Residents from villages of Ledsham, Ledston and Fairburn fear the scheme will have a devastating impact on their homes and well over a thousand letters of objection have been received.
Opponents are concerned about a number of issues including HGV traffic, noise, impact upon Fairburn Ings and how locals and visitors are currently able to enjoy pleasant walks, which will be affected by the opencast mining.
A report to go before Leeds City Council's east plans panel on Thursday recommends the plans be given the all-clear subject to conditions.
The planning officer's report says Banks has addressed objections and while the scheme was "unlikely to be popular", the environmental impact was "not unacceptable".
The report to be considered by members says: "The site lies within a Special Landscape Area as defined within the Leeds Unitary Development Plan. This area comprises undulating, well structured farmland on magnesian limestone, dissected by several small dry valleys.
"The landscape is dominated by the high quality, well wooded parkland landscape of Ledston Park.
"Fairburn Ings, located to the south of the site, is a nature reserve run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and comprises large areas of marshland, open water, wet meadows and reedbed.
"An RSPB visitors centre lies around 400m to the south east of the site boundary."
Campaigners have organised rallies and protests under the banners of Residents Against Greenbelt Exploitation (Rage), formed in the wake of the scheme, and another group, Yorkshire Against New Coal.
They fear the plans will mean more lorries on the road in their community, could spoil the tranquillity of the countryside and fear the mine could impact on wildlife at Fairburn Ings, one of the North's favourite birdwatching reserves.
But the report to the panel recommends approval of the plans saying: "It is recognised that proposals for the extraction of minerals and opencast coal such as this application attract a high level of opposition due to the reputation of the operations involved.
"Whilst the council must of course consider the views of local residents when determining any planning application, the extent of local opposition is not, in itself, a reasonable ground for resisting development."
The RSPB has raised previous concerns about issues including water quality levels. But the report be considered by councillors says it has been agreed that water levels and quality would be monitored in accordance with a scheme to be agreed with the council, Natural England, Environment Agency and the RSPB.
Banks has said haulage routes would not go through Ledston village and the company would use the quietest machinery it could.
The firm also said the project would create around 41 local jobs, as well as supporting many other local businesses.
Restoration of the site would also take place as part of the Banks proposals.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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