A SECOND public meeting to discuss an opencast plan will be held next week.
Hargreaves Surface Mining says digging up to 514,000 tonnes of coal and 83,000 tonnes of fireclay from a 56-hectare site known as Field House, between Pittington and West Rainton, would bring an economic boost and benefit local communities.
However, many villagers are opposed to the scheme.
A Durham County Council committee rejected planning permission in June last year, against the recommendation of the council’s planning officers.
Hargreaves has appealed and a public inquiry will be held at Pittington Village Hall for three weeks from Tuesday, September 29.
The Stop the Opencast between Pittington and West Rainton campaign says a public meeting it held in Pittington to discuss the issue earlier this month attracted almost 150 people.
A second will be held at Jubilee Hall, West Rainton on Wednesday, at 7pm. For more information, visit facebook.com/stopwr
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