Allerdale

Yet again Allerdale Council delay on RNAD purchase until end of March.

Broughton Parish Council will not even discuss it.

From the Times & Star

Wall of silence over dump Friday, 25 January 2008

A WALL of silence this week surrounded the stalled Derwent Forest project as it was revealed that talks have taken place over possible opencast coal mining on part of the site.

International mining and construction group Keir has bought the coal rights to the 1,200-acre Derwent Forest site near Broughton Moor.

Kier, based in Sandy, Bedfordshire, is understood to have started talks with the potential new council owners of the Ministry of Defence site, formerly a Royal Naval Armaments Depot and still known locally as ‘The Dump’.

The purchase of mining rights does not mean that the go ahead for coal mining has been given. Planning consent and owner consent would still be required.

A four-year extraction plan for the northern section of the land, close to Broughton Moor village, is on the agenda.

1 It may include a clearance and de-contamination programme for the whole site, on which 110 World War II buildings still stand.

It should/will include ,as asbestos is present in & on buildings, this can be backed up with evidence from Allerdales own web site.


Kier declined to comment. A spokesman said: “We feel it would be inappropriate to speculate further how the longer term aspirations for the site may best be achieved.”

But John Ardron, Labour councillor for Broughton St Bridget’s, said: “I can confirm for certain that Kier Group have opened talks.

2 “But I for one would not contemplate any coal extraction scheme unless there was a ‘planning gain’ for the community, like the £18 million Tesco has promised for sports facilities in Workington , and unless the local community said ‘yes’.

What like no one objected to Tesco? I was at the meeting to discuss this in the Theatre can only say that no matter what was said it was already decided.

“The real problem now is that the council administration is keeping us all in the dark.”
It is believed that Kier’s proposals could mean that all the coal, estimated at probably three million tonnes, could be removed by a dust-secure covered conveyor belt that would extend to a coastal railhead.

At the end of any contract, the land would be restored to ‘greenfield’ status.
Communities on the edge of The Dump have in the past firmly rejected coal extraction, but Broughton parish council chairman Keith Sproat said it should be considered again especially if it meant 150 local jobs.

3 Mr Sproat said: “We’ve waited 18 years for something to happen on The Dump.
“We’re all asking questions and nobody is giving us any answers, so if it’s got to be coal, let’s go for it. “Coal is a very valuable commodity again.”

He's Parish Council Chairman for Broughton & will not even discuss it till a decision is made by which time if it is Open cast then planning permission will no doubt have been decided, well we'll see.

If you object or have any views on this get along to your parish council meetings & voice your opinion & or concerns.

Coal mining would not necessarily conflict with the long-term aim of simultaneously developing the massive site for a range of leisure and tourist-related activities. ???

The Ministry of Defence has already set four deadlines for Allerdale council and Cumbria County Council to buy the land from it for a nominal £1. The latest deadline is March 31 this year, which was confirmed by Allerdale council on Tuesday.

The North West Development Agency has promised up to £9 million to develop the site. A NWDA spokesman said this week ownership was holding up the land transfer.

He added: “There are a number of commercially sensitive discussions taking place with a variety of parties.

“We are not in a position to divulge further information but the agency and its partners, Allerdale Borough Council, Cumbria County Council and Cumbria Vision, are continuing to work on this project. There have been some issues on legal title and work is ongoing to resolve these issues.”

4 Allerdale council refused to add to the statement.

The same as Tesco & the Cloffocks. What ever happens this has gone on for too long a decision must be made, & local Residents must be kept informed at ALL stages of the decision making process.