Scottish Coal Plans to Develop 3 Opencast Sites.

24 November 2010

We have now added an opinion poll to find out where people stand on the opencast proposal. Please click here to let us know your opinion!

23 November 2010

LCC have recieved details of a residents action group who are looking to oppose the proposed Opencast Developments. this group; STOP! (Stop The Opencast Plans) are holding a public meeting in the Jubilee Hall on Saturday 11th December between 2:30 and 4:30. more info on this group can be found at stopopencast.org.uk.

Please Note: STOP! have NO links to Lesmahagow Community Council

22 November 2010

Information from Scottish Coal;

"Glentaggart East -This will be a satellite extension to the existing Glentaggart site lying c 1.5km south of Douglas which will make use of some of the site's existing infrastructure for access & coal dispatch.

The land is currently upland grazing owned and has the potential to yieldup to 4 milliontonnes of coal over a c. 10 year period. Given relative Isolation from houses this will be a 24 hour mining operation.

A 2011 site start is proposed with completion c. 2021 at the latest with restoration to upland habitats."

"Auldton Heights - Auldton Heights is a small, new mining site which lies on the south side of Lesmahagow. The land was previously a British Coal prospect and had a mining consent secured by others which lapsed some number of years ago.

We will seek consent on an area of ground that allows for retention and protection of the adjoining Coalburn Moss SSSI/SAC.

The Auldton Heights land is now owned by the Forestry Commission Scotland and would yield c.400,000 tonnes of coal over a 2 year excavation period plus 1 year for restoration. Restoration would be to mixed woodland which will assist in FCS's broader objectives for it's wider landholding in the local area. This will be a day-shift only operation and a 2012 site start date has been assumed."

"Broken Cross North (East) Extension - This is an extension to the Broken Cross site, referred to in our 2004 proposal for Broken Cross North. It will 'round off' the earlier North Extension to Broken Cross. It contains an estimated 1 million tonnes of coal.

The land is improved grazing land and will be returned to improved pasture by 2020.

This will be a day-shift only operation and will follow on from the existing North Extension operation which is planned to cease in 2012."

While the Glentaggart site does not fall within the boundaries of the LCC area, Broken Cross & Audton Heights do.

LCC need to know how many Lesmahagow residents are for or against these proposals in order to properly represent the village views to SLC. To this end, we would appreciate if you could let us know your feelings by email, post or in person.

24 October 2010

An Environmental Impact Assessment is now underway for Surface Coal Mine extensions at Glentaggart, Auldton Heights and Broken Cross.

At the moment, we have no further information on this proposal.

If you have any comments about this, please get in touch in person or by email.