RESERVES of coal on land at Porter's Gate Colliery off Manchester Road, Burnley, could be extracted if Lancashire County Council say yes to the planned re-opening of a drift mine.

Proposals currently lodged at County Hall show that the site is expected to yield up to 250,000 tonnes before the pit head is turned back to moorland. But objectors are not so sure the restoration will happen.

The site was visited by members of the County's development control sub-committee in June 1995 after they had refused an original, 1994 planning application.

They said then that there was insufficient evidence of a viable deposit of coal.

Further, the applicants could not demonstrate that their proposals would not adversely affect ground or surface water resources, and the development would be visually intrusive.

Now, though, the applicants - Porter's Gate Colliery Ltd. - have lodged a revised application for which planning bosses are recommending acceptance, providing the colliery company agrees to a host of conditions.

The proposal is to re-open the disused underground mine which is on a 28 hectare site to the north-east of the A682 Burnley to Rawtenstall road.

Most of the site consists of the underground extraction area with approximately 0.2 hectares being used for the location of a surface compound housing the mine's infrastructure.

The company expects to take out the coal over a 20-year period, using a mining method which ensures a minimum amount of 'spoil'.

Site access, if the scheme gets the go-ahead, will be via an existing track linking it to the A682, and the company claims that its proposed output will generate an average of three loads each day, and a maximum of six loads.

In view of the mine's low output there are no objections to the proposal from the County Surveyor.

But Burnley Borough Council is objecting on two grounds : that the mine will have an adverse impact on the area's visual amenity, and there will be a risk of pollution to water supplies.

Objections come also from the Council for the Preservation of Rural England. They say the need for coal does not outweigh the environmental impacts. If planning permission is granted, they want to see appropriate bonding arrangements to ensure the site's eventual restoration.

Burnley and District Civic Trust and Burnley Wildlife Advisory Group have expressed similar concerns to those of Burnley Council.

In addition County Hall has received eight letters of objection - one from the local county councillor - and a 70-signature petition raised by the Waggoners Inn.

Among the various issues raised by these objectors are that the mine will have little impact on local employment levels; there is no need for the coal; there will be noise, dust and mud; the site may not be restored if the firm goes out of business.

Boreholes drilled in the area show the presence of extensive unworked reserves of good quality coal which has a high calorific value and a low ash and sulphur content.

These qualities make the product ideal for blending with lower quality coals, and therefore suitable for both domestic and industrial markets which the company claims have already been identified.

ZGovernment planning policy with regard to coal mining is that applicants do not normally have to prove a need. Proposals are determined solely on their planning merits.

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