Green light for Ferneybeds

Proposed surface mine receives unanimous approval from Northumberland County Council planning committee

NORTHUMBERLAND County Council’s planning committee has resolved to grant planning permission for Banks Mining’s proposed Ferneybeds surface mine.

The scheme, which will be located to the south of the village of Widdrington Station, received unanimous approval from the committee, and will see around 752,000 tonnes of coal extracted from a 96ha site over a three-year period.

It had previously been recommended for approval by the county council’s planning officers and was also supported by the local Widdrington Station & Stobswood Parish Council.

Katie Perkin, communications manager at The Banks Group, said: ‘Having had the backing of Widdrington Station & Stobswood Parish Council for our planning application, and having also received a recommendation for approval from Northumberland County Council’s planning officers, we’re very pleased that the planning committee has also expressed its support for the Ferneybeds surface mine.

‘This project will enable Banks to continue their long-term investment in an area in which we have worked for more than three decades. Our local operations are already directly employing around 200 people, as well as supporting many other jobs in the local supply chain, and the substantial contributions we’ve made to many local towns and villages over the years have greatly improved the community facilities that they enjoy.

‘Our planning application has been carefully designed in close consultation with the local community, and we are wholly committed to living up to the promises we have made about the way in which it will be operated.

‘Coal will remain a central part of the UK’s energy mix for the foreseeable future, and we know there will be great demand for the high-quality materials that we extract from the Ferneybeds site. We will now be looking to finalize the details of our operations before commencing preparatory work at the site.’