A proposal to opencast a million tonnes of coal near Marley Hill and Byermoor has been dropped by UK Coal, the country’s biggest producer of opencast coal.
And the decision has been welcomed by local Lib Dem councillors Marilynn Ord and Jonathan Wallace.
The area in question lies along the border between Gateshead and Derwentside. 17 years ago a bigger application was rejected by Gateshead Council and later by Government inspectors for the same site.
"Despite the decision of UK Coal not to proceed with a formal application for this site, we have to remain vigilant," said Marilynn. "But the company has not ruled out an application in the long run.
"This site is very close to the villages of Sunniside, Marley Hill and Byermoor and access to it would affect thousands of people.
"Of greater concern however is the attitude of the Government. They have now made it clear that they are concerned that there is not enough opencast mining and my fear is that the rules on applying for new sites will be relaxed.
"If that were to happen, much of the North East will be in the front line of opencast mining."
Photo: Councillor Marilynn Ord with some of the replies to the petition opposing plans for an opencast site on Fellsdie Road, Whickham. Now UK Coal has withdrawn proposals for another opencast site near Marley Hill.
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