Derbyshire, which is becoming a new centre for Opencast Coal mining with I site already in operation at Lodge House, an application for another one at George Farm, a possible one at Hill Top now faces the possibility of another one near Renishaw, Staverly and Barlborough.

                  THE  LOOSE ANTI OPEN-CAST NETWORK

PR 2012-4                                                                             25/7/12

DERBYSHIRE TO FACE A NEW THREAT OF OPENCAST MINING?

Derbyshire, which already has an opencast mine at Lodge House, an application for another mine at the George Farm site, both near Smalley, plus an expression of intent at the Hill Top site near Clay Cross now could face another application.

Recent research, undertaken for the Loose Anti Opencast Network (LAON), has revealed that some communities across England are facing the prospect of an opencast mine application in their locality within five years. The communities of Renishaw, Staverly and Barlborough, could be facing such an opencast  mine application.

UK Coal plc is in the process of selling of 8 tracts of land across the country. The particulars attached to the sale documentation for each site include the following details:

“An opportunity to acquire an agricultural property portfolio with strategic coal reserves, sold with the benefit of an option agreement for UK Coal Surface Mining to work the coal. All the sites in this portfolio are included within UK Coals five year planning program for surface mining.”

One of the sites for sale involves land off Hague Lane, believed to be Hague Farm site near Renishaw (1). UK Coal plc, a Company which is millions of pounds in debt and in danger of failing, is trying to raise money by encouraging investors into a joint venture whereby UK Coal gain some money up front to offset its debt mountain. The sites were put up for sale in February (2) and so far two sites have been sold. The Hague Lane site is still, it seems, under offer.

The Loose Anti Opencast Network consists of individuals and groups who work together to oppose actual and proposed opencast mine applications. We also try to alert local people to the prospect of them having to face an opencast mine application and help them to prepare for that eventuality. If any individual or group wants further information about LAON then contact    

References

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1)   <!--[endif]-->For details about the site particulars  off Hague Lane see

http://www.smithsgore.co.uk/property-for-sale-land-and-energy-portfolio-2320120

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2)   <!--[endif]-->Farmers Weekly ‘Farmland includes potential coal income’ (1/2/12) @

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/01/02/2012/131241/Farmland-includes-potential-coal-income.htm

<!--[if !supportLists]-->3)   <!--[endif]-->Nottingham Post “Multi-million pound deal to sell hundreds of acres of farmland” (18/7/12)

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Multi-million-pound-deal-sell-hundreds-acres/story-16553510-detail/story.html

For more information on this press release please contact Steve Leary, Co-ordinator , LAON  at

Infoatlaon@yahoo.com