Do something easy today to help stop new coal in Scotland
As we prepare to take on RBS in Edinburgh this month, we’re also showing solidarity with community campaigns against fossil fuel industries across Scotland. We’ll be encouraging people to get involved with local campaigns during the camp, and we’ll also be helping organise a day-trip to a proposed open cast coal mine site at Cousland, just outside Edinburgh, to support Communities Against Airfield Open Cast. But in the meantime, there’s also some simple things you can do to stop the march of new coal in Scotland.
Before any new coal power developments can be made, companies have to go through an extensive planning appliation process. Objections to planning applications can substantially delay the planning process and force the companies pushing through these projects to spend money on submitting more information. When decisions are made in favour of the coal companies, there is more possibility for a public inquiry if there have been lots of objections. That means that writing objection letters is a really simple and effective way of supporting campaigns and opposing coal. Here are four actions you can take – and it’s no more work than signing your name and sending a letter.
The Douglas Valley in South Lanarkshire has been blighted by open cast mines for over 20 years. Not content with open casting Mainshill after the eviction of 45 protesters from trees and tunnels in January, Scottish Coal have submitted an application to extend the existing Glentaggart Open Cast coal mine. You can download a pro-forma letter to add your name, address and a date to here.
Even more slyly, Scottish Coal, as part of the Scottish Resources Group, has submitted an application to build an industrial development on part of the site of Poniel Open Cast which has now finished. As well as blatantly flaunting their duty to restore the Poniel site, the Coal Authority has said that the development will require the removal of any coal on the site. Have a look at the Poniel / Happendon Mixed Use Development Application (a.k.a. another new open cast for the Douglas Valley) and download a letter of objection to add your name, address and a date to here.
Communities Opposed to New Coal at Hunterston (CONCH) are battling to stop Ayrshire Power’s application for a new coal-fired power station at Hunterston, near Largs. You can object to the plans here.
And finally, that new 2 million tonne open cast coal mine is proposed for Airfield Farm, Cousland. A strong local community campaign against this plan, Communities Against Airfield Open Cast have asked for people to object to the plans.
So get signing those letters, and we’ll see you in a couple of weeks for more action!
What day is the support for Commmunities Against Airfield Open Cast please?
Thomas Stanley on August 9, 2010