Opencast Mining (Hansard, 18 July 1949)

§ 65. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Cuthbert Headlam
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he intends to proceed with the opencast coalmining near Whitley Bay which in some places is in close proximity to dwelling houses, is causing grave concern to the inhabitants and is ruining the amenities of a popular seaside resort.

§ The Minister of Fuel and Power (Mr. Gaitskell)
Yes, Sir. The urgent national need for coal makes it imperative that these sites shall be worked. I cannot agree that the amenities of this neighbourhood will be ruined, and I would remind the right hon. and gallant Member that, after working, the sites will be restored. Every effort is being made to reduce to a minimum any inconvenience to local inhabitants, and careful attention has been given to the representations of the Whitley Bay Council on this matter.

§ Sir C. Headlam
Would the Minister have us believe that blasting operations on this scale are causing no inconvenience to the inhabitants? Does that answer tally with the complaints that have been made that over 20 feet of stone have to be blasted in order to get to a two-foot seam of coal? Is the coal that he expects to get of such quantity and quality that it is worth causing all this inconvenience to the people of this place?

§ Mr. Gaitskell
I never suggested it would cause no inconvenience to the local inhabitants, but merely that we would try to reduce the inconvenience to the minimum. As regards the coal, it is certainly worth getting in this area, there are some two million tons there.

Mr. Wilson Harris
Can the Minister say how close this working is to the dwelling houses, and whether there is a normal distance which is recognised between opencast mining and dwelling houses?

§ Mr. Gaitskell
Perhaps the hon. Member will let me have notice of that question.

§ 67. Brigadier Thorp
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the opencast mining proposed near Amble will destroy valuable dairy land; that in due course this coal can be extracted by normal deep mining; and if he will take steps to ensure that the former method is not adopted.

§ Mr. Gaitskell
No, Sir. It would not be practicable to extract this coal by normal deep-mining methods, but I am consulting with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture in the usual way before deciding whether or not the site is to be worked. If it is worked it should yield over 75,000 tons of coal, and the land should be restored to agricultural use within two years.

§ Brigadier Thorp
Is the Minister aware that one of the local experts of the National Coal Board has informed me that it can be extracted by deep mining?

§ Mr. Gaitskell
My information is precisely to the contrary. The National Coal Board are of the opinion that it must be done by opencast mining.

§ Mr. Gomme-Duncan
Can the Minister say how long this permanent devastation of food-producing land is to go on? To say that the land can be put back to its previous condition is sheer nonsense.

§ Mr. Gaitskell
There is no question of permanent devastation of food-producing land. On the contrary, there is evidence to the effect that it may positively benefit. [Interruption.] I said that there was evidence to that effect. I am not claiming the evidence is necessarily the final word in the matter. The opencast mining programme, as the hon. and gallant Member is probably aware, will continue until 1950–51, and after that it should tail off.