Sandra hits out at new coal guidelines

Local Labour MP Sandra Osborne has backed coal sector union leaders and coal producers in attacking a decision by deputy communities minister Johann Lamont to introduce new planning guidelines governing Scotland's open-cast coal mining industry (Scottish Planning Policy 16 Open-cast Coal). The new guidelines were intended to set out "how communities and the environment should be protected from the impacts of open-cast mining". However Sandra has claimed

“The guidelines could lead to the decimation of the Scottish coal industry and threaten many jobs. There is a provision in the rule changes called a ‘presumption against’ planning permission for the development of new opencast sites. The Scottish Executive have tried to play this down calling it a ‘tidying up’ but the truth is that a similar change in England has ensured no new open-cast mining development has been permitted since.”

“I have already discussed the situation with local union reps and with the STUC. We are all very disappointed with this and intend to monitor the situation very closely to ensure that it does not impact adversely on job prospects in Ayrshire”

Sandra continued

“Over the coming months there is going to be a major energy debate at Westminster and this will include the future of coal in contributing to meeting Scotland’s energy needs. I have already been asking questions about Government support for the development of clean coal technology which could provide secure employment in the coal industry for the future as well as helping as meet our targets for reducing C2 omissions.”