Open Casting

Durham County Council planners have nodded through UK Coal's plans to create artificial ponds for newts that already live in existing ponds which the developer intends to destroy. This is the start of the attempted open cast coal mining of the Pont Valley. UK Coal say they intend to start work on the ponds in early January. This work is strongly opposed by the local community.
Pont Valley Network

The Hexham Courant reports that Northumberland County Council’s planning and environment committee has thrown out HM Project Developments Ltd application to opencast 140,000 tonnes of coal 50 metres from residents’ homes in Halton Lea Gate.

Whittonstall
Wolsingham residents against the coal depot

Mainshill Eviction Alert

This morning the process to evict Mainshill Solidarity Camp began. Members of the National Eviction Team, along with police climbers, are currently on site, walking around taking pictures. At the moment there are about 10 police/eviction team on site.
Residents of the camp are asking for anyone who is able to go to site as soon as possible to boost numbers and strengthen the camps position.
Mainshill Solidarity Camp

NPower Defeated, EDF and NATO targetted

RWE NPower have shelved their plans for the proposed coal fired power station in Cambois, Blyth!
But the BBC report that Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has approved 10 sites in England and Wales for new nuclear power stations. These would require subsidies from taxation, the imposition of a tax on CO2 emissions and no tax on radiation emissions, radioactive waste or the risk of disasters.
The NATO Welcoming Committee have reminded us of the environmental cost of war in the run up to this weekends Parliamentary Assembly in Edinburgh.
Free Joe Glenton!

Mainshill Solidarity Camp

Work has started at Mainshill, where Scottish Coal want a new coal mine but the community does not. Huge areas of plantation are being felled and JCBs have moved in. The Solidarity Camp has been doing its best to stop work on the site (video), but now we need your support and solidarity to win this fight against Scottish Coal, Lord Home and South Lanarkshire Council!
Building – Workshops – Action
Saturday 13st October, 1pm: A walk of the area with people from surrounding and affected communities, visiting areas that have been destroyed by Scottish Coal and areas that we can still save. A discussion on the campaign so far and where we can take it will follow.
Climbing, treehouse building and tunneling workshops
A “work day” to build the Solidarity Camp some new defences
Evening camp-fire entertainmentPlenty of chances to stop a beautiful area of Scotland’s countryside from being turned into an opencast coal mine
What to bring:
Warm clothes and water-proofs, a tent, sleeping bag and matAny food, building materials and tools you canMost importantly, bring yourself and your friends
mainshill@riseup.net
07806926040
Website

Ratcliffe

Whittonstall Open Cast Action Group

UK Coal intend to apply for planning permission to create a huge surface mine to the East of the B6309 between Marley Tiles and the village of Whittonstall.

Public Meeting
3pm Sunday October 4th
Whittonstall Church