Blog – Coal Action Network

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Update on Secretary of State’s decisions on opencast coal mining

15th March 2019 By coalaction

The Secretary of State agreed to remake a decision regarding the revocation of planning permission for extraction of coal by opencast methods at the Bradley site in the Pont Valley, Durham, by the 25th February 2019. The department agreed that its original decision making process was “flawed” and so it would remake the decision. No […]

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Plans to extend opencast mine in Pont Valley

28th February 2019 By coalaction

Banks Group announced on Monday that they wish to extend the planning application at the Bradley opencast site, in County Durham. This announcement came on the same day that James Brokenshire was due to announce whether he would revoke the planning permission for this opencast mine. Local resident Liam Carr “We always feared this day […]

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Dewley Hill: Banks plans to destroy it

31st January 2019 By coalaction

**Updated** Banks Group is looking to extract 800,000 tonnes of coal from Dewley Hill, on the outskirts of Newcastle. On 20th February Banks announced they planned to submit an application imminently to Newcastle City Council. The main information we have so far is from a preliminary planning notice was entered to Newcastle Council (this is […]

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‘Flaw’ in decision to allow newest coal mine

17th January 2019 By coalaction

Campaigners say it is an opportunity to consign opencast coal extraction ‘to the history books’ Cross posted from Ecologist Magazine. By Isobel Tarr, Coal Action Network. The decision to allow the Bradley opencast coal site in Pont Valley, County Durham, which began operating in 2018, is to be reconsidered by James Brokenshire, the communities secretary. […]

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Banks Coal company, accused of wildlife crime, fail to appear at court.

14th December 2018 By coalaction

Banks coal company, accused of wildlife crime, fail to appear at court. A judge at Peterlee Magistrates Court on Wednesday 12th December heard the case against Banks’ Group for alleged wildlife crimes in the Pont Valley. The case will go to a full hearing on 11th February 2019 at Teesside Magistrate Courts. Banks Group, who […]

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Guilty of taking a stand

14th November 2018 By coalaction

Today Judge Harrison found eight people guilty of six accounts of obstruction of the public highway and two accounts of obstruction of a police officer. All were fined and told to pay a victim surcharge varying by income level, plus court costs of £400 each. In total, the eight have to pay a staggering £8,323. […]

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Private prosecution against Banks Group over habitat destruction

29th October 2018 By coalaction

Campaign to Protect Pont Valley has launched a private prosecution against Banks Group for destroying the breeding and resting places of protected Great Crested Newts at Brooms Pond, on the Bradley opencast near Dipton. Update: The first hearing is to be 12th December at Peterlee Magistrates Court. Great Crested Newts are a European Protected Species […]

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Coal Action Network is ten! (Part II 2014-2009)

25th October 2018 By coalaction

We’ve been working with communities against opencast coal mines and UK power stations for a whole decade. To celebrate we’re looking at our achievements a year at a time. Want to help us celebrate? Donate to our legal fund against the last opencast company looking to open new coal extractions – Banks Mining https://chuffed.org/project/justice-pont-valley for […]

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Coal Action Network is ten! (Part I 2018-2015)

23rd October 2018 By coalaction

We’ve been working with communities against opencast coal mines UK power stations for a whole decade. To celebrate we’re looking at our achievements a year at a time. Want to help us celebrate? Donate to our legal fund against the last opencast company looking to open new coal extractions – Banks Mining https://chuffed.org/project/justice-pont-valley for details […]

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Banks in court trying to get permission to mine at Druridge Bay

19th October 2018 By coalaction

This week Banks Group went to the High Court to try and get a decision made by the Secretary of State for Communities, Housing and Local Government over-ruled on a new opencast extraction near to Druridge Bay in Northumberland. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) says, “149. Permission should not be given for the extraction […]