Residents opposing opencast mine bid

Residents are opposing a planning application for a 45-hectare opencast colliery near Whickham, Gateshead, close to the Durham County border.

The application, submitted to Gateshead Council by Dickinson Dees on behalf of Hall Construction, is for the extraction of up to 480,000 tonnes of high-quality coal and 100,000 tonnes of fireclay over three years, on farmland between Burnopfield and the National Trust's Gibside estate.

Gateshead ward councillor Dr Jonathan Wallace said: "We have launched a petition and will be resisting the plans.

"It is a very wildlife-sensitive area. It is an area of great natural value anyway, and is also right on the doorstep of the historic Gibside estate, which has links with the late Queen Mother."

The site, which is on a prominent ridge overlooking the Derwent valley and the Gibside estate, is about 400 metres from the Derwentside and County Durham boundary, at Burnopfield.

The applicant intends the site to be hidden from public view by soil mounds up to 13 metres high.

But Coun Wallace said the site would be visible from Byermoor, Rowlands Gill and Burnopfield.

Access to the opencast site, which is on an area called Skon's Park, will be from Fellside Road, which links Whickham to Burnopfield.

It is expected to create about 96 vehicle movements each day, with vehicles using the A692 to gain access the A1.

Coun Wallace said: "They will be travelling up Lobley Hill through Sunniside, which is an awful road. There are accidents there every year."

Gateshead Council is sending letters to thousands of residents likely to be affected by the development for comments, though these have been delayed while the authority waits for the applicant to give dates for a public meeting in the area.

The council will also consult with the National Trust, English Nature, the RSPB, the Environment Agency and English Heritage.

The application is likely to be considered by the council in September.