Coal mining plan for Clayton West lodged with Kirklees Council
COAL mining could return to a village near Huddersfield.
Nick Lavigueur
And it will bring new jobs to the area.
Gordon Harrison Ltd has lodged its plan with Kirklees Council to extract 190,000 tonnes of coal and 40,000 tonnes of fireclay from land at Clayton West.
The firm first announced its intention to dig an open-cast mine in July last year but has only now officially submitted its application.
A similar plan to develop an open cast mine at Dearne Lea off Litherop Lane, was rejected by Kirklees planners in 1997.
The village last hosted mining at its Park Mill pit, which closed in 1989.
It will take two years to excavate the site near to the border with Barnsley, and six months to restore it to its original state.
And it has now been revealed that on completion of mining the site would become the new home of Emley Show.
A 50-year peppercorn rent has been agreed with show organisers.
Coal from the site will be used at either Kellingley Colliery, near Knottingley, or at Drax power station, near Selby, while the clay will be used to make bricks.
Site operating hours would be from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and from 7am to 1pm on Saturday.
It is anticipated there would be up to 30 lorry loads leaving the site each working day.
The applicant says heavy goods traffic generated by the mine would be routed via Litherop Lane and the A636 Wakefield Road to the north of the site, and says no trucks would be seen in the village itself or neighbouring High Hoyland.
The Government's natural environment agency, Natural England, has raised no objections to the plan.
Mark Barrett, from the applicant's agents, Silkstone Environmental Limited, said the proposal would create 12 full-time and four part-time roles.
Mr Barrett claimed the project would displace the need to buy £13m of coal from abroad and said if given the green light Gordon Harrison Ltd would advertise locally and would offer training to those without the relevant mining skills.
Clayton West representative for Denby Dale Parish Council, John Cook, said he had mixed views on the proposal.
He said: "The restoration part of it is one of the best I've come across, and I've seen a lot over the years.
"The jobs boost will be good for the local economy but I'm unsure about the mining itself."
But councillors from both Kirklees and neighbouring Barnsley have said they are concerned about the proposal.
Denby Dale Tory, Clr Jim Dodds, said he would be calling for the plan to be reviewed by the council's planning sub-committee.
And Penistone East Conservative, Clr Robert Barnard, said he had already submitted an official objection on behalf of residents of High Hoyland.
Clr Barnard said High Hoyland villagers had recently had an informal meeting with representatives of the Wakefield-based company.
He said: "They gave us the spiel about how little impact it will have on the area but I don't think the residents were particularly convinced.
"We've got a number of people expressing concerns about the noise, dust and traffic.
"We're told they'll keep the traffic away from High Hoyland but I'll believe that when I see it.
"I've also got concerns about potential pollution of the River Dearne as it's very close to the site and we know mining produces mercury."
But speaking last year, Mr Harrison told the Examiner that concerns about dust from the mine were unfounded and said it would not endanger villagers.
Clr Dodds said it was about a year since Kirklees residents had been invited to a briefing about the plan at Scissett WMC, where most had opposed the idea.
He said: "I've got my reservations about it. I don't think the damage it's going to do the environment and how quickly it will be restored is what we really need at this time."
Kirklees' planning department is accepting comments on the plan until Friday, June 1.
Clayton West
Kirklees Council
Jim Dodds
Emley Show
Emley
Denby Dale