OBJECTORS have applauded a council's refusal to allow opencast mining of farmland in attractive countryside.

North-East Land Developments, part of the Hargreaves Group, at Esh, near Durham, wanted to mine 130,000 tonnes of coal over 18 months from the 27-hectare Jolly Drover's site at Leadgate.

However, the county council rejected the plan after protests from from residents, community and conservation groups.

The site is in the Derwent Valley, next to the A692 gateway route to Consett, near a pond designated as scientifically important, and opposite the Coast-to-Coast cycle route.

The firm said mining would boost the local economy by creating 37 jobs for local people and that measures would be taken to limit dust and noise and any impact on the pond.

Its restoration scheme would include woodland planting, a hay meadow, marsh land and a reed bed.

The company also pledged a £20,000 community chest which could be spent to benefit the area.

Objectors included Derwentside District Council, residents from Leadgate, Pont, Dipton, Medomsley and Consett, The Council for the Protection of Rural England, and the Derwent Valley Protection Society.

Their concerns included dust and noise affecting people in the hamlet of High Stables, the destruction of attractive landscape, damage to wildlife and flora and fauna and highway dangers.

Carol Robb, chairwoman of the Drovers Opencast Action Group, said the visual impact of mining next to a gateway route would damage tourism and economic development in Derwentside.

Local county councillor Watts Stelling said: "The C2C is metres away. People want to see a natural landscape but they will not see that.

"All they will see is mounds of earth. It can't be good for Leadgate or County Durham as a whole.''

The planning committee followed the officers' recommendation to refuse planning permission.

It was told that mining would have significant impacts on the landscape and would not provide clear benefits to the community.

Derwentside council leader Alex Watson said: "I am delighted with the decision, it was clearly the right one.

"The Derwent Valley is particularly well regarded. The views are outstanding and nobody wants anything to affect that.

"There was a provide fear that if this was approved there would be further opencasting in the area.''