As a lot of people will have seen in last weeks media, Northern Coal Limited (NCL) is planning an opencast site on Cockfield Fell. It has emerged that the company has already had tentative talks with the relevant authorities including English Heritage and DCC with a plan that will destroy the largest scheduled Ancient Monument in the UK.

Although coal has been mined on the fell since 1700, in the form of ‘bell pits’, nothing will compare to the devastation that will be inflicted if NCL get their way.
In an audacious scheme, NCL plan to opencast the whole of the fell in an attempt to get at over a million tons of coal, then use it as land fill and finally place 50 wind turbines on the rejuvenated site.
NCL spokesperson, Lydia F Loopars, said the people of Cockfield would benefit enormously if the scheme was approved. “NCL is taking advantage of recent government legislation to exploit some ‘Brown’ and ‘Greenfield’ sites. Whilst some companies are building houses and extending factory and retail initiatives, such as the new shopping complex at St. Helens Auckland, we have identified huge resources of untapped coal reserves on Cockfield Fell. While there will be an initial impact of increased traffic, noise, dust and pollution, the local economy will benefit with the introduction of up to 100 jobs. Local cafes, bars, hotels and restaurants will all benefit too as the site could have a useful life of up to 5 years. Once the coal has been extracted, we will fill the site with non hazardous waste and then working along side renewable energy companies, we expect to achieve 50 plus wind turbines on the new ’green’ area. Our plan also includes free coal for any Cockfield resident and free electricity when the wind turbines are finally erected.”

Well, that’s a nice little bribe isn‘t it?, but do we really want a thousand years of history wiped out in a couple of years? Everyone of us in Cockfield has a connection with the fell. It’s where we grew up, where we played, where we courted and where we take our kids and grandkids, where we keep our horses and pigeons and where we go for picnics by the beck; Free coal and electric can’t replace any of that!

This morning I have e-mailed DCC, the Protection for Rural England and National Heritage along with Lydia F Loopars of NCL to set up a meeting to get more facts.

What should we do? Take the freebies and lose the fell OR fight and save our heritage!

Comments appreciated