Minorca Opencast Protest Group PR 62:


Opinions against the prospect of having an opencast mine on the outskirts of Measham seem to be hardening. As signatures were collected for the petition asking that Leicestershire County Council make a decision on UK Coal’s Minorca Application, local people living in Leicester Road, Iveagh Close and part of Bosworth Road in Measham were also asked if they wanted to join MOPG. From this part of Measham, 200 people signed the petition and of these over 60 people agreed to join MOPG – nearly one in every three signers of the petition.

This gives MOPG its biggest increase in membership for nearly a year and leaves the Protest Group with a permanent legacy from the petition. It boosts the Group’s membership to over 300.

Said Steve Leary, MOPG’s Spokesperson

“One of our members collected these signatures and signed up over 60 people to join MOPG at the same time. It shows what might have been achieved if more members had offered to collect signatures, especially in Measham.
It also helps to dispel the myth that only people living on what locals call ‘The Barratts Estate” are objecting to the application. Our media campaign, which over the last 21 months has resulted in numerous local news stories has also helped to boost our numbers as many of these people have been following the campaign through the local papers and did not need much persuading to join.

Others however, despite not wanting the opencast mine, seemed to feel powerless and thought that it was not worthwhile undertaking any kind of protest in face of what they thought would be inevitable, that UK Coal will be granted planning permission, no matter what. It would appear that we still have work to do to persuade such people, who in their heart of hearts don’t want the mine, to join the campaign.

If we were unable to contact anyone who wants to join the campaign, membership is free. They can either join by leaving their details on our website contact page at:  http://mopg.co.uk or they can drop a line, giving their details to our Membership Secretary, Maz Starkey at 22 Greenfield Road, Measham.

The petition, with over 450 signatures will be presented to Leicestershire’s Development Control and Regulatory Board at its meeting on Thursday June 17th after Bob Walsh and Phil Owen, two Measham pensioners, walk from Swepstone Church to County Hall on the day starting at 7.00am.

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Please Note

Bob Walsh and Phil Owen are happy to be interviewed about the petition and why they are willing to deliver it in person to Leicestershire County Hall by walking the 15 miles or from Swepstone Church on the 17th June 2010.
However, more general questions about MOPG and its opposition to UK Coal’s planning application should be addressed to MOPG’s Spokesperson, Steve Leary.
On the 17th you will be able to keep in touch with developments by contacting Steve Leary via this number 077 11510215.

OTHERWISE, FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTACT:

STEVE LEARY, SPOKESPERSON, MOPG
4 GREENFIELD ROAD, MEASHAM, SWADLINCOTE, DERBYSHIRE DE12 7LB, tel 05601 767981, email  steve46leary@googlemail.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MOPG PLEASE GO TO:
 http://www.mopg.co.uk or
 http://www.leicestershirevillages.com/measham/minorca-protest.html