Opencast campaign to continue with open meeting

CAMPAIGNERS are ready to grill county council chiefs over a proposed opencast mine in Measham.

The Minorca Opencast Protest Group (MOPG) is hoping to get answers to 10 questions at a meeting tomorrow night.

UK Coal wants to extract 1.25 million tonnes of coal and 250,000 tonnes of fire clay off Gallows Lane.

Members of the development control and regulatory board at Leicestershire County Council, which will make the final decision on the plans, will be at the meeting. MOPG members say they plan to ask questions about UK Coal's record when it comes to restoring sites, light pollution, the use of buffer zones, the company's claims about job prospects, and traffic issues.

MOPG chairman Steve Leary said: "This is the only chance people will have to voice their objections directly to those members of the development control and regulatory board.

"It is very important that as many people as possible who are against UK Coal's proposal attend this meeting. It is regrettable that UK Coal will not formally be represented at the meeting, as there are questions we would have liked to have put which only they can answer, on issues such as employment, restoration of the Ashby Canal and the destination of the fireclay.

"However we now understand that Measham Parish Council is to arrange a public meeting on this application to which UK Coal will be invited." The meeting will be held from 7pm at St Laurence's Church Hall, in High Street, Measham.