§ Sir John MellorI desire to present a Petition from certain of my constituents. It is the humble Petition of the Vicar and parishioners of Astley in the County of Warwick, and others; and it bears 176 signatures. The Petition states that the National Coal Board designs to extract coal from under Astley Church; that the subsidence resulting therefrom would imperil the structure of this ancient church; that the works proposed by the Board, for the mitigation of damage, include the severance of the tower from the nave; that such works would require the removal at great risk, of the painted stalls, which have remained undisturbed for 300 years; and would preclude the normal use of the church for a long period; and that Astley Church, by reason of its antiquity and beauty, is a national monument.
The Petition concludes with the Prayer:
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that the National Coal Board be restrained from proceeding to work the coal beneath Astley Church and from causing damage thereto. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.