A MEETING to discuss political partiesʼ opinions on the UKʼs opencast mining policy is to go ahead in Measham despite the death of the villageʼs MP.
Minorca Opencast Protest Group (MOPG), which is fighting plans to develop an opencast mine on the Minorca site, off Gallows Lane, will hold the session with North West Leicestershire’s prospective parliamentary candidates at 7.30pm on Monday, February 8, at St Lawrence’s Church Hall, in High Street.
Tory Andrew Bridgen, Liberal Democrat Paul Reynolds, Labour’s Ross Willmott and British National Party member Ian Mellor have all agreed to give their personal and their party opinions on UK energy policy and opencast mining.
An invitation has also been extended to the United Kingdom Independence Party candidate, who is soon to be selected.
The meeting was always due to be held before the forthcoming General Election, which must take place by early June, but has now been given an added edge following the untimely death of Labour MP David Taylor.
The 63-year-old died on Boxing Day after suffering a heart attack while out walking at Calke Abbey, near Ticknall.
MOPG spokesman Steve Leary (pictured) said: “It is a tragedy for us that we had begun organising this meeting under such circumstances, as we have lost the original champion for our cause with the untimely death of Mr Taylor.
“Initial planning for this event started in November - before the death of Mr Taylor - so that this public meeting would not interfere with the General Election campaign whenever the election is called.
“Now, the issue is even more urgent, with the possibility of a by-election being called in the next few weeks.
“MOPG is delighted that all of the known prospective parliamentary candidates for this constituency have agreed to speak at the meeting on what should turn out to be an interesting evening.
“Unlike some of MOPG’s previous meetings, this is a meeting open to all members of the public.”
All of the speakers will be sent a copy of a recent report on the role and extent of current and future opencast mining in Britain. The document is about to be published by MOPG.