UK Coal plan new beauty spot mine

Local residents fear noise and dust will spoil the area

Fresh plans are set to be submitted for an open-cast coal mine near to the Wrekin beauty spot in Shropshire.

Despite already having two planning applications for a mine at the site turned down, UK Coal is set to submit another application.

The company hopes to produce 900,000 tonnes of coal a year from the site, but it would only last five years.

Local residents near to the site, next to Little Wenlock, said the mine would spoil the countryside setting.

Vernon Plimm, who lives near the site, said: "Local people are extremely concerned about the noise and dust which will be carried on the prevailing winds.

"We're also very concerned about the destruction of a piece of beautiful rural countryside."

David Brewer, of the Confederation of UK Coal Producers, said: "Most open-cast mining sites last three, four or five years and so we are talking about green to green in that period.

"As for as noise and dust are concerned, they are subject to planning conditions and obligations and they're also subject to legal requirements."

UK Coal are due to submit the latest application in early summer.