Green light for Mainshill Wood opencast mine
THE controversial Mainshill opencast mine has been given the go ahead — after the Scottish Government refused to intervene in the planning application.
Under new planning regulation, Circular 3, introduced on April 1, the Government has decided that South Lanarkshire Council is best placed to handle the application.
A Government spokesman said: "The new regulations are designed to make planning easier and reform is a priority for the Scottish Government.
"In respect to this particular decision the Government felt that the decision would be better taken by the local authority."
The decision has angered many locals in Douglas most notably pressure group Morag, set-up to oppose Mainshill.
More than 700 people signed a petition in protest and Morag chairman Kenny Sludden believes local views have not been taken into consideration.
He said: "The news that the Scottish Government has passed the Mainshill application back to the council is extremely disappointing for local democracy.
"It's another example of a complete lack of environmental protection by local authorities and national government.''
Scottish Coal plans to extract 1.7 million tonnes of coal from Mainshill — which is less than one mile from Lady Home Hospital.
A spokesman said: "We are pleased that Scottish Ministers have passed the planning application back to the council to allow it to issue the planning permission."
For more information on this controversial decision, see this week's Carluke and Lanark Gazette which is in the shops now.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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