CONTROVERSIAL plans to create an opencast coal mine in North-East countryside have been approved following a second public inquiry in recent years.

Planning inspector Kathleen Ellison ruled in favour of UK Coal over its proposals to develop the Bradley site, near Leadgate, Consett, in County Durham.

It follows several years of legal challenges from residents, who have described the scheme to remove 520,561 tonnes of coal, including 75,000 tonnes of coking coal, from the land as ‘environmental vandalism’.

North-West Durham MP Pat Glass said: “It is a devastating decision. There will be an awful lot of disappointed people who have put a lot of work into opposing this plan.”

The energy firm appealed against Durham County Council’s 2011 decision to reject the development during a hearing last October at Leadgate Workmen’s Social Club and Institute, in St Ives Road, Leadgate.

Planning officers had initially recommended the scheme for approval, but it was rejected by councillors due to strenuous public opposition and environmental concerns.

The decision was upheld by a planning inspector after a public inquiry in autumn 2011, but a High Court judge later quashed the inspector's findings.

Ms Ellison’s ruling now supersedes previous decisions and means the development can go ahead.

She said: “Although the initial adverse effects in relation to both landscape character and visual impact would be substantial during the operational phase, their length and severity would be greatly mitigated through the use of a progressive approach to restoration.

“In my judgement, the adverse visual impact would move from major adverse to moderate-minor adverse within the short to medium term and would be barely noticeable beyond the point of about 15 years, post-restoration.”

UK Coal estimates the work will take three-and-a-half years and has set out a five year restoration plan, followed by a further ten year period of conservation management.

Durham County Councillor Watt Stelling said: “It is scurrilous and scandalous that the decision is in favour of UK Coal. I am very disappointed and a lot of people in this area will be as well.”

Durham County Councillor Alan Shield said the decision should have delayed until legal disputes over the wider County Durham Plan have been resolved.

He said: “It is a big shock. I am disappointed and if not a little devastated by this news.”

The company has said the scheme would support 38 skilled well paid jobs for people in the area and the coal mined would benefit the domestic electricity market.

Stuart Timmiss, head of planning and assets at Durham County Council, said: “It is clear that in this instance the inspector has found that national planning policy overrides the local policies in place and has therefore decided to grant the appeal.”

No-one from UK Coal was available for comment.