§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will postpone all consideration of opencast coal mining applications until the research recommendations of Roy Waller Associates have been published.
§ Mr. AtkinsNo. Planning applications must be treated on their individual merits and with regard to all material considerations. Mineral planning guidance note 3 on opencast coal mining already recommends that local planning authorities have regard to the environmental, nature conservation, agricultural, landscape, traffic and other effects of a proposal that are relevant to the planning decision. Local authorities are well placed to consider applications and it would be inappropriate to postpone their consideration because of continuing research.
§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend the terms of reference given to Roy Waller Associates to cover the deterimental effects of opencast coal mining on the entire area affected by those operations, including the route used by wagons entering or leaving the site.
§ Mr. AtkinsNo. As I explained in my answer of Friday 16 November, this is a broad-based project which is looking at all the environmental impacts of surface mineral extraction, including the effects of traffic. If information is sparse on any particular issue, the final report of this project will recommend that further detailed research is undertaken.