Mark Pritchard - Member of Parliament for The Wrekin

A community petition, led by Mark Pritchard MP, opposing UK Coal’s proposals for surface mining in Huntington Lane and New Works.

What are the proposals?

Surface mining UK Coal will be submitting a planning application, in May 2007, to mine 900,000 tonnes of coal over a four year period - off Huntington Lane, New Works. The project will be called the Huntington Lane Prospect. Mark Pritchard is opposing these proposals vigorously, for the following reasons:

Unsuitability of the area for surface mining.
The increase in residential dwellings since 1998 - when the last application was discussed.
Loss of part of an Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB).

Countryside

Loss of trees and ecological and environmental impact on New Works Wood
Ecological and environmental impact on Short Wood
Closure of Ironbrige Power Station within next 10 years.
New EU and UK Emissions regulations (ref: Ironbridge). Clean coal technology is still not fully developed and has not been installed at Ironbridge Power Station, which is one of the potential customers for any of the coal mined. No such investment is likely with the power station due to close.
Not in line with government policy, which is rightly seeking to diversify energy supplies and increase use of renewable energy.
Impact on visual amenity.
Impact on local roads and highway infrastructure from HGVs, plant and increased vehicular movements (Including Saturdays).
Loss of Scheduled Monuments.
Planning blight (loss of value of houses in area).

Join the campaign

Please sign my on-line petition below or download one and place it in local shops and businesses.

Together we can STOP this development, which will decimate local wildlife and completely undermine the quality of life for hundreds of local residents.

Click here to download petition form (pdf).

Online Petition

"We the undersigned oppose plans by UK Coal to re-open historic and new surface mining areas in and around New Works and Huntington Lane, believing that the proposals are contrary to current energy policies that are attempting to reduce climate change by moving towards more sustainable forms of energy and which reduce CO2 and carbon emissions. And further believe that the local environment, ecology, highway network, and the quality of life of local residents will be severely undermined should the proposal go ahead."
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