A LEADING campaigner against plans to mine on the moors between Burnley, Bacup and Todmorden has questioned why a decision on the application has taken so long.

Former Burnley Councillor and spokesman for Cliviger Parish Council Tony Harrison said: "Two years' ago when I was chairman of Cliviger Parish Council I held a public meeting at Todmorden Town Hall about the plan to mine at Thieveley Pike.

"Now a decision has been adjourned until November 7 and I am concerned that the people who attended that original meeting may think the plan has gone away.

"I am appealing to all those people who attended that meeting two years ago to write to County Hall if they still have concerns about this application.

"We cannot forget the flooding problems which affected Todmorden or the problems with the road between Cliviger and Todmorden because of the mine workings and we are not convinced that further mining will not lead to further problems.

"Why does it take two years to make a decision?"

A spokeswoman for Lancashire County Council explained the reason for the delay was because the mine crossed borders and counties affecting Lancashire and Yorkshire, Lancashire County Council and Calderdale Borough Council.

She said: "We had to wait for responses from Calderdale Council and then there was a change in the plans by the company which caused a further delay.

"We are now having to reconsult with Calderdale to make sure the traffic doesn't go through Bacup but, if not, it will be going through Todmorden.

"So as well as having a site visit, we also need to arrange to meet with Calderdale planning committee before it goes to committee. It is a big issue."

The plan met with a storm of protest and a march from Todmorden to Bacup and further demonstration outside the Environment Agency and County Hall.