Opencast mining plans approved by councillors » Local government » 24dash.com

Plans to use opencast mining to remove two million tons of coal at a former pit village in Northumberland have been approved by councillors.

UK Coal wants to open the mine in Ashington, creating 60 jobs, but protesters have said it will spoil the environment with noise and dust.

Gordon Halliday, chief planning officer at Northumberland County Council, said: "The application was granted planning permission by the planning and regulation committee.

"It was a named vote, 8-4 in favour. We now have to refer the decision to the Government Office for the North East for approval."

UK Coal wants to mine at the site in Potland Burn over six years.

A spokesman said: "We are pleased that the scheme has been approved as we have been working on the proposal for three years.

"We are pleased that the officers at the council, whom we have been working closely with, were able to recommend this proposal.

"In these difficult economic times this scheme will create 65 new jobs and provide two million tons of coal for this country.

"This scheme will be a catalyst to help regenerate an area which has been hard hit by the closure of the coal industry in the last 20 years."

David Nicholson, chairman of the Wansbeck Initiative, said: "The mine's total working life is going to be six years, but it doesn't bring new jobs. What it does is get in the way of attracting jobs and creating industry."