Support for fight against mining

Durham County Council is to lodge an objection with Gateshead Council against plans to work 111 acres of farmland across the county boundary near Burnopfield.

Hall Construction, of Rushyford, wants to extract 480,000 tonnes of coal and 100,000 tonnes of fireclay over three years from a site at Byermoor Farm, Fellside Road, near Whickham, Gateshead.

The plan has aroused opposition from residents in and around Burnopfield and across the border in Gates-head, and from Derwentside District Council.

Eddie Stringer, chairman of Derwentside Residents Against the Mining Application, said the group welcomed the county council's decision to oppose the plan.

"But we are taking nothing for granted and the campaign will continue," he said.

"Burnopfield is the gateway into the Derwent Valley and the county itself. Potentially, the application could be the thin end of the wedge to widespread opencast applications, some of which could be in County Durham itself."

He said there was concern about the impact of blasting on homes 70 metres away in Burnopfield - the county council's minimum distance is 500 metres - and on wildlife, including recently re-introduced red kites.

He added although site traffic would only use roads in Gateshead, it would have a knock-on effect in Burnopfield and lead to tailbacks.

Mr Stringer said an opencast site in such a prominent location could put off potential investors in the area and could even threaten existing investment.

Reg Ord, independent councillor for Burnopfield and Dipton, said: "I have every confidence that Gateshead Council will literally throw this out. I can't see any benefit that will be gained by Gateshead or Burnopfield."

Senior planning officer John Dyers told the county council's planning committee that the scheme did not offer any benefits to the area that would outweigh the impact it would have.

Gateshead Council is expected to make a decision on the plan in autumn.