LAON PR 9-2014

3/10/14

BRADLEY PUBLIC INQUIRY: FEARS OVER THE

DEVELOPMENTS FINANCIAL RISKS
One of the great concerns of those opposing the attempt by UK
Coal to mine the Bradley site in Co Durham, is whether the site
will be restored once the coal has been mined. This fear has
been prompted by a number of reasons:
The Scottish Restoration Crisis mention in the Loose Anti
Opencast Networks (LAON) set of objections, refers to what
has happened in Scotland, where last year, when the price of
coal fell to 55 per tonne, two Scottish Coal producers went
bust, leaving 34 un-restored sites which may cost the taxpayer
200m to put right. Now the price of coal has fallen further, to
47 per tonne. Local people do not want to see a repeat of the
same thing happening at Bradley.
Their fears are heightened, because of the financial state of the
Company seeking planning permission. UK Coal Production
does not own the land it only owns the mineral rights. The
Company, otherwise known as Juniper (no 3) Ltd, is in
liquidation, following the collapse of the old UK Coal company
last year. This situation is hardly reassuring.
In addition, evidence to be put before the Public Inquiry which
starts in the Leadgate Working Mens Club in Leadgate on
October 7th by the Loose Anti Opencast Network (LAON),
suggests that by the end of the coal extraction period, the UK
as a whole will be producing more coal than it needs for power
generation purposes as the more polluting, old, coal fired power
stations close. As a consequence it will become ever more
difficult for UK Coal to gain planning permission for new
opencast sites. This LAON argues is likely to create new

financial problems for UK Coal / Juniper (no 3 ltd) as the income

stream it needs to finance the expensive task of completing
site restoration dries up.
Whichever way you look at it, this proposal to mine the coal at
the Bradley site looks to be a risky proposition said Steve
Leary LAONs spokesperson, who will be presenting LAONs
evidence at the Public Inquiry.
When UK Coal first applied for planning permission for this
coal things were looking very different. The world price for coal
was rising, driven by an apparent insatiable demand for coal
from China. Now a few years later, things look very different.
China itself faces over production problems, as well as the
country making determined efforts to rapidly switch to
renewable energy resources to cure its pollution problems. As a
consequence world coal prices have fallen to a five year low. In
response, UK Generators, are offering shorter and shorter
contracts to domestic coal producers for their coal, keeping
down UK coal prices, as they can easily import cheaper coal.
Given this background, local people are right to fear that if UK
Coal win their case, the real legacy they will be left with will be
a big, water filled hole in the ground, where there was once an
opencast mine.
NOTE FOR THE EDITOR
This is the fifth of a number of press releases LAON will be issuing in the
lead up to the Public Inquiry which will explain different parts of LAONs
set of objections. Previous press releases on this topic can be sent if
requested. The Public Inquiry begins on Tuesday 7th October in Leadgate
Working Mens Club. Leadgate, Co. Durham
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PONT VALLEY NETWORK
The Pont Valley Network is group of diverse individuals with varied
experiences and backgrounds. We understand that as people we dont
always communicate with each other that well. We might disagree or
agree with each other for many reasons but we share one thing in
common:

We all live or have lived and care for Pont Burn Valley. We recognise its
unique heritage and natural beauty and are prepared to work hard to
preserve it.
This is a link to their website @ http://www.pontvalleynet.co.uk/
The contact person for the Pont Valley Network is Carole Rooke @
c.rooke@aol.co.uk , Tel 01207 570003 or 07751 113148
INFORMATION ABOUT THE LOOSE ANTI OPENCAST NETWORK
The Loose Anti-Opencast Network (LAON) has been in existence since
2009. It is a UK and Northern Ireland wide network of 30 local community
groups opposed to local opencast mine proposals / operations. It functions
as a medium through which to oppose open cast mine applications and
works with groups where local people feel that such a development is
inappropriate.
CONTACTING LAON
Steve Leary, LAONs Spokesperson, at infoatlaon@yahoo.com
Tel 05601 767981 or 07711501215
You can now follow LAON on twitter @ http://twitter.com/seftonchase
GROUPS IN THE NETWORK
Coal Action Network
Whittonstall Action Group, Northumberland,
North Pennine Protection Group, Northumberland,
Pont Valley Network, Co Durham,
Pittington Residents Group Co Durham,
Newton Lane Action Group, Leeds,
Residents Against Birklands, Gateshead
Cowley Residents Group, Sheffield ,
Skelmansthorpe Action Group, Kirklees
Shortwood Farm Opencast Opposition, Nottinghamshire,
West Hallum Environment Group, Derbyshire,
Smalley Action Group, Derbyshire,
Hilltop Action Group, Derbyshire,
Minorca Opencast Protest Group, Leicestershire,
Campaign Against Great Oak Opencast, Staffordshire,
Stop Opencast at Sharlston, Wakefield and
Alumwell Action Group. Walsall

Just Say No to Lignite, N Ireland,

Coal Action Scotland
Mining and Environment Group, East Ayrshire
Saline Parish Hub, Fife
Stop Cauldhall Opencast, Midlothian
Green Valleys Alliance, Rhymney Valley
Residents Against Ffos-y-Fran, Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil Anti Opencast Campaign, Merthyr Tydfil
Llwdgoed Action, Merthyr Tydfil
Varteg Protest, Torfaen
United Valleys Action Group, Rhymney Valley and
Wales Against Opencast Group.