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Thursday, 2nd September 2010

Is mining coming back to Kirkby?

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Published Date: 02 September 2008
Email Catherine Allen

CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to do all they can to block plans which could see coal reclaimed from a spoil heap at the former Langton Colliery between Kirkby and Pinxton.
They fear the scheme could signal the start of open cast mining in the area if Nottinghamshire County Council gives ATH Regeneration Ltd the green light to take the coal at a planning meeting on 30th September.

New protest group Notts Against New Coal (NANC) claims the use of coal to generate electricity could potentially contribute to climate change because of the levels of carbon dioxide emitted.

It also argues that the 25-hectare site would produce less than half-a-million tonnes of coal throughout a three-year period and would provide only 35 jobs in that time.

In addition, protesters say there will be more than 50 lorries travelling through Pinxton every day during the work, ferrying coal to power stations in Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire.

'Reclamation'

Said NANC spokesman Jane Burd: "The extraction of coal at Langton may be called reclamation but it is open cast mining in all but name.

"All new coal in the UK is now obtained by open cast mining – giant earth movers and power shovels remove the coal before it is loaded onto trucks to be processed at Pinxton.

"All this work will cause noise and dust as well as traffic congestion, which will affect the local residents."

But ATH development manager Brian Tonion told Chad the scheme was a restoration project that did not signal the start of a new mining programme.

He said: "The proposals for the former Langton Colliery spoil heap have been carefully designed to provide an environmentally-led coal recovery and reclamation scheme.

"There are currently ongoing issues with combustion and leachate and ATH's proposals provide a solution to reclaiming the spoil heap to bring it back into productive use from its current disused state.

'Diversity'

"The recovery of approximately 450,000 tonnes of coal will contribute to the maintenance and diversity of fuel supply — and some 35 jobs will be created at the site for the duration of the project, which will be around three years.

"It is also proposed to plant 22,000 trees in 8.8 hectares of new woodland, 2,000 metres of new hedgerow, create 7.6 hectares of agricultural land along with 7.2 hectares of dry grassland and wetlands.

"It is also proposed to upgrade footpaths within the site and create a new footpath linking Kirkby Lane with Beaufit Lane in Pinxton."

And Neil Greatrex, who is president of the Mansfield-based Union of Democratic Mineworkers, told Chad that the reclamation of coal on the site had been on the cards for many years.

'Privatisation'

He said: "Ever since the privatisation of the coal industry 13 years ago, there have been plans to reclaim coal from the spoil heaps.

"However, this does not mean that the area will be used for open-cast mining and I believe that once the reclamation is complete, the area will be then used for country walks and wildlife.

"It's also going to bring jobs to the region and in this climate, I can't see any reason for objecting to it."

A county council spokesman said the authority could not comment on the plans, simply saying: "As this is an issue that is still under consideration and a final decision is yet to be reached, it would be inappropriate to comment on this matter at this time."

  • For more information on the group Notts Against New Coal, visit www.nottsagainstnewcoal.wordpress.com.


What do you think? Click below to have your say.

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  • Last Updated: 02 September 2008 3:51 PM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Mansfield
 
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Alpha_Geek,

03/09/2008 11:06:23
NO NEW COAL!

I commend the environmental plans for the site. But FFS!! When will people learn that coal in not the answer? How are we going to cut emissions if we keep on burning the dirtiest fossil fuel there is? The IPCC (http://www.ipcc.ch/) say we need to cut emissions by 60-90% by 2050. Our obligation under the kyoto protocol, are to cut emissions by 26-32% by 2020. It is not enough. The governments manifesto pledge was to cut emissions by 20%. Since they came to power it has risen by 2%. The governments of the western world, aided by public (YES YOU) apathy, is killing the planet, it will happen in our life time. This is the inheritance you are leaving for your children.

Is 35 jobs for 3 years, plus additional pollution really worth it? not by a long shot.

"It's also going to bring jobs to the region and in this climate, I can't see any reason for objecting to it." ?!%$~# WHAT?

The economy means NOTHING when faced with extinction due to climate change.

Wake up people. If you want a world for your children and grandchildren resist this.
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Alpha_Geek,

03/09/2008 11:20:27
PS. How is this exclusive?

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Column-start-open-cast-mining-Notts/article-293937-detail/article.html
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infowars.com,

04/09/2008 11:04:45
"New protest group Notts Against New Coal (NANC) claims the use of coal to generate electricity could potentially contribute to climate change because of the levels of carbon dioxide emitted."

Understand the truth and you'll find this comment just as laughable as me.
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Alpha_Geek,

04/09/2008 12:23:41
So enlighten us infowars, as far as I am concerned, use of coal WILL contribute to climate change. Period.
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x minor,son,

kirkby 04/09/2008 19:27:07
the people who do not wont the coal to be used to make electricity should live with out it, 35 jobs for 3 years is good for those people ,after all this area was a coal produsing area for 100 years .or shall we use gas from the USSR.THEY CAN can turn off the tap at any time. coal and kirkby go together
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x minor,son,

kirkby 04/09/2008 23:17:30
talking to a ex miner he said after the coal is taken out the land will be made good again,look at shiply park and other places.
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Alpha_Geek,

05/09/2008 09:03:02
But you are missing the point! I appreciate the history of coal in this country, and in this area. But it is history, just because we mined it hear for 100 years, doesn't make it the right choice for now. As it happens Europe already get gas from Russia (there has been no USSR since 1991, and honestly I would rather depend on them than the US), and that too is not the answer. There is less gas left in the world than coal. Miners of all people should appreciate the dangers, what with Pneumoconiosis, poisoning from carbon monoxide and sulphur hydrogen, chronic intoxication and not to mention the world wide 20-50 deaths from accidents each day. But hey, it's all OK so long as the companies keep making money, and you can turn on a light. There are plenty more workers to exploit. For example coal currently imported in to the UK from Columbia comes from mines run by cartels, where worker exploitation is rampant. And China...well....

Coal is one of the worst polluting fossil fuels there is, and this clean coal rubbish (carbon capture and storage) is still only theory. Did you read the NANC web site, and learn about the possible ulterior motives behind this?

Please don't just blindly believe government and corporate propaganda, research for yourself. Give yourself a real education, not the standard state and corporate brainwashing. Then explain to me how this is a good thing. Climate change is THE worst problem mankind has ever faced, but it seems the current answer is to ignore it and hope it goes away. Our plans and proposals for tackling the problem are simply not enough. It is up to us, the people, to resist things like this. There ARE alternatives. What people need to understand is that to carry on our current way of live is unsustainable, we need to cut back, not try to meet ever increasing demand. And the thing is that life without TV and all our other conveniences is healthier. People have just got fat and lazy, and trust all the companies to hold their best
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Alpha_Geek,

05/09/2008 09:07:09
interests above profit! Put the alternative energy sources together with social sustainability, and the problem is solved.

And even if you want your children to live in a world where fuel is so expensive only the rich can afford it. Where there are worldwide fresh water shortages, leading to wars, where once fertile land becomes desert, and half the UK floods. Recent research shows that the Artic ice sheet could be gone in as little as 5 years! (If the Earth’s temperature raises by only 2-3 degrees, it will be too late, it will be self perpetuating, and will cause the Earth's sixth mass extinction. So even if you want all these things, do you have the right to force it on the rest of us?
Please, think for yourself.
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x minor,son,

kirkby 05/09/2008 14:25:58
did you see thenews about that new coal station that captures it own carbon ..it is a start,as for overseas coal prodution dont import it Hear,
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Alpha_Geek,

05/09/2008 14:50:41
Yes I did, unfortunately this is yet more propaganda to distract from the real issues.
Firstly the process of capturing and storing requires yet more energy, which produces...you guessed it...more carbon!!! It requires more machinery more chemicals, and over all produces more pollution. Add in the transport of the carbon and the pollutants released compressing this stuff to 100 time atmospheric pressure. CO2 is only a part of the problem. Nitrous oxide and methane are also very important greenhouse gasses. By looking only at carbon dioxide the figures are distorted to make them more palatable to the public.
Add to this the fact that the technology doesn’t actually exist, has never been tested, and is only theoretical, and the whole lie begins to unravel. I appreciate the point about exporting the technology to India and china, but I do not see this technology as anything but a placebo.
Also no one has explained just how they are going to store this stuff. All they say is “under the north sea”. No one knows how. Add to this the potential of other unforeseen environmental problems, and it just doesn’t seem worth it.
In addition. This technology dosn’t capture all the carbon. It still emits 20% in to the air.
If you follow the news, you will remember two weeks ago in Kent, there was a camp for climate action. This protest was against this exact technology. I won’t go in to it further, but if you research you will find all the info you need.
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