Council to consider Cauldhall Moor mine plans

Midlothian Council’s planning committee will consider controversial plans for an open cast coal mine at Cauldhall Moor in November.

Hargreaves Surface Mining Limited plans to extract 10 million t of coal from the site, located between Penicuik and Rosewell. The company acquired the interests at Cauldhall Moor after Scottish Coal went into liquidation in August.

A planning application is scheduled to be reported to Midlothian Council’s planning committee for determination on November 19. However, a pre-determination hearing is scheduled for November 7 in Penicuik town hall, and will constitute a meeting of the planning committee.

The controversial application has received an overwhelming response, including objections from Transport Scotland, Historic Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Wildlife Trust, the Forestry Commission for Scotland, East Lothian Archaeological Service, the RSPB, Scottish Water and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Concerns include the impact the mining will have on local communities through noise, dust, blasting, haulage and impacts on community health. Environmental costs of the application have also been highlighted.

Edited from various sources by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/17102013/council_to_consider_cauldhall_moor_mine_plans_145/