Save Druridge 

We are a local group from Northumberland opposing a proposal to operate what would be the largest opencast coal mine in England in the beautiful Druridge Bay coastal area. 

It is imperative ALL of our supporters contribute as much as they can AND SHARE this link to ALL friends and family. With you all behind us we can win this!!!

On 23 March this year, the then Secretary of State, the Right Hon. Sajid Javid MP refused permission to develop a massive opencast coal mine in Druridge Bay, Northumberland. He did so because of the significant adverse impact that the opencast would have on what he described as the valued landscape, and also that the proposal would be inconsistent with policies for meeting the challenge of climate change, and would not represent sustainable development. We agreed and support his decision. The idea of a destructive, noisy, polluting and significantly harmful opencast coal mine in one of the most beautiful areas of the UK beggars belief.

The refusal in March followed over five years opposing the proposal in which the operator, Banks Mining, has shifted its reasons for the proposal frequently, its justification simply doesn’t add up.

Banks Mining has now appealed the Secretary of State’s refusal and we now need to defend the case in the High Court and we need help in doing so. Banks suggest that: "Coal is the bridge to a low carbon economy". Frankly, this statement is absurd.

The case is significant. It was the first ever proposal to be called in on climate change grounds and the developer’s appeal appears to suggest that digging up fossil fuel is entirely acceptable and that the Secretary of State was incorrect in his approach in refusing permission.

We need financial support to help ensure that we can be legally represented in the High Court. Banks Mining has stated that the case is significant. We agree, it is vital that such an important decision by the UK Government to say no to ‘coal’ in clear terms is upheld and that the pursuit of coal purely for profit does not prevail.