HC Deb 21 July 1981 vol 9 c80W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what acreage of agricultural land would be involved if the Vale of Belvoir proceeded, after (a) 10 years' coal mining, (b) 30 years and (c) 60 years.

Mr. John Moore

In the planning applications for the North-East Leicestershire prospect the National Coal Board estimated that the three mine sites would involve a total of 270 acres. The three tip sites would ultimately involve 1,520 acres but, as a result of the proposed method of progressive restoration, not more than 7.5 per cent.—about 115 acres—of the tipping area would be out of agricultural use at any one time. The mine and tip sites consist largely of agricultural land but part—about 50 acres—of the Saltby tip site is derelict. Detailed estimates of land use in individual years are not available.