NORTH-EAST MEP Fiona Hall is to visit the site of a controversial opencast mine proposal in the region.
Hall Construction, of Durham, wants to mine half-a- million tonnes of coal from a site next to the historic Gibside Estate, near Burnopfield, on the border of Derwentside, in County Durham, and Gateshead.
As part of the proposal, 100 lorries a day will pass through the villages of Byermoor, Marley Hill, Streetgate, Sunniside and Lobley Hill to get to the site.
Ms Hall will be visiting the site, in Fellside Road, with Gateshead Liberal Democrat councillors who are fighting the plans, at 1.30pm on Sunday.
Councillor Jonathan Wallace, whose Whickham South and Sunniside ward covers the proposed site, said, "We are very pleased Fiona is visiting the area.
"Residents have been invited as well and we are keen that they are able to speak to their MEP and raise their concerns about this application."
More than 1,000 people have signed a petition opposing the plan, which is to be decided by Gateshead Council later this year.
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