Open Cast Coal Refused by Leeds City Council

Icon_article Star-blue1 Published: August 21, 2009 13:22 by JenClaptrap

Tagged as: environmentalism
Neighbourhoods: ledsham ledston leeds
Published by group: GroupIMC Northern England

A proposed open cast coal mine has been refused planning permission by Leeds City Council.

The application for “Extraction of coal and other materials and alterations to landform with restoration to agriculture, woodland and nature conservation at Newton Lane, Back Newton lane and Claypit Lane at Ledston and Ledsham” from Banks Developments was turned down by the local authority after “careful consideration”. Pleased environmental campaigners received letters in the post this week notifying them of the decision.

The reasons for the refusal were published by Leeds City Council on 27th August (see attached PDF) and are as follows:

  1. It's not suitable to be happening in the Leeds Green Belt
  2. It would seriously harm the Special Landscape Area
  3. There would be too much traffic

Yorkshire Against New Coal (YANC) and Residents Against Greenbelt Exploitation (RAGE) campaigned heavily on the issue, along with other local residents (including Yorkshire ramblers)  who were concerned about the degradation of the area which is in green belt land and is currently attractive countryside as well as the dangers of the new mine and the environmental damage of using coal as a power source.

Attached Files

Report Reasons for Refusal

Additions

Public Inquiry into open-cast proposal announced

Comment Published: March 20, 2010 19:23 by marker

On 12th March 2010, Banks Developments lodged an appeal against Leeds City Council's refusal of their application to open-cast the Ledston & Ledsham site with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

This news was announced by Leeds City Council Planning department on 15th March. A new deadline for comments and representations has been set for 23rd April 2010.

The Secretary of State's appeal process can be viewed and commented on at http://www.pcs.planningportal.gov.uk/pcsportal/ViewCase.asp?casename=APP/N4720/A/10/2120051&caseaddress=COO.2036.300.8.3012893

The Local Authority planning process can be viewed and commented on at https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/appealDetails.do?activeTab=details&keyVal=KW37HIJB0FT00