It's 'Vive le resistance' to coal plan

TIM FLETCHER

A EUROPEAN television crew has visited the site of a controversial application for an opencast coal mine near Measham.

The crew spoke to members of the Minorca Opencast Protest Group (MOPG) at Valley Farm, in Bosworth Road, which overlooks the Minorca site the subject of UK Coal's proposed development.

The footage will be shown on Belgian and Swiss television, and could also feature on international French language network TV5 Monde, as part of a series of programmes on environmental issues across Europe in the run up to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, being held in Copenhagen next week.

MOPG chairman Bob Walsh said: "They picked up our story about the Minorca application and came to speak to some of our members and to film at the site.

"They were asking us why we were in opposition to the scheme and what the perceived impact of it would be.

"We told them what we've been saying all along that we believe the negative impact on the area far outweighs any claimed benefits."

Mr Walsh, who has just taken over as chairman from previous incumbent Steve Leary, said his aim was to keep the group's campaign 'on the front burner' after a round of successes which has seen North West Leicestershire District Council and Measham, Snarestone and Swepstone with Newton Burgoland parish councils formally oppose the scheme.

He said: "We want to keep the issue alive and in front of the populace of this area. It's very easy for these things to be left alone and for people to allow themselves to relax.

"We are taking on a big private company here and if we don't maintain our visual opposition to this application, it's possible that the bodies who have to make decisions on it could see that as acquiescence."

The UK Coal planning application is due to be considered by Leicestershire County Council in the New Year.