Councillor raises fears about ‘potentially fatal health and safety concerns’ around ‘home mining pro

Rural coalfields have stythe gas problems and home mining plans don’t address potentially fatal concerns

Cllr Scott Dickinson has raised ‘serious’ concerns over a planning proposal to ‘home mine’ coal from a location in Widdrington which was the scene of a fatal ‘stythe gas’ incident in the nineties.

The Cllr is raising his concerns and urging Northumberland County Council planners to look again at the proposal in the light of serious problems across the rural coalfields of South East Northumberland because of ex mineworkings and pockets of the deadly gasses.

Cllr Dickinson said

“The history of potentially fatal gas releases is a problem for our rural coalfields and this proposal doesn’t seem to have considered that. This is a pressing concern for residents and the county council alike and I want to see a full and transparent investigation into how this issue will be dealt with. It’s the most serious of a number of serious concerns I have about this proposal and I’m urging the applicant to withdraw his application – it’s not acceptable to play fast and loose with safety and this application is in such close proximity to the people of Widdrington”.