MOPG's 77th Press Release 8/9/10


UK COAL’S MINORCA OPENCAST APPLICATION: NORTH WEST LEICESTERSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL STILL SAYS NO!

Yesterday, Members of the Planning Committee of North West Leicestershire District Council agreed by a majority vote to continue to oppose UK Coal’s plans for an Opencast Mine on the Minorca site between Measham and Swepstone.
Members listened to the objections raised by The Minorca Opencast Protest (MOPG) Group and by Cllr Richard Blunt on why this application should be opposed as well as hearing a statement from the Measham Ashby Canal Enthusiasts on why the application should be approved.

Steve Leary, speaking for MOPG had three minutes to explain why this application would not only have a detrimental effect on the lives of local people but it should not be approved on two other grounds. The advice given on policy issues related to the new Government’s Energy Policy was misleading and that the conclusions on the Environmental Impact of the scheme reached by Wardle Armstrong, UK Coal’s agents were not based on sound criteria.

Cllr Richard Blunt, Member for the Appleby Ward spoke for many local people when he stress that this application, if successful would impact on local peoples quality of life and that this outweighed any perceived benefit that was being offered by UK Coal.

For the second time on this issue, Members voted against their Officer’s recommendation not to oppose the application in principle but votes to oppose the application because of the loss of amenity local people would suffer from if the application was approved.

Steve Leary, speaking for MOPG afterwards said

“This is a major landmark for our campaign. We know this recommendation has to go to the full Council of North West Leicesterhire District Council for approval. However, once approved, it will mean that the elected representatives of 70,000 electors now agree with the Minorca Opencast Protest Group that this is not an acceptable application despite claims to the contrary.

As before, all the local representative bodies, Measham, Swepstone and Snarestone Parish Councils and now North West Leicestershire District Council are united in their opposition to this plan.

This decision further encourages us to continue to press for a similar decision from Leicestershire County Council on October 15th. MOPG see no reason, given the strength and validity of our objections, why the Members of Leicestershire County Council’s Development Control and Regulatory Board should not reach the same conclusion as that passed yesterday by the Planning Committee of North West Leicestershire District Council.

END

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTACT:
STEVE LEARY, SPOKESPERSON, MOPG

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