Marchers say no to open cast mine
Published 26 Aug 2010 09:21
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ORMISTON residents joined their Midlothian neighbours on Saturday to protest against controversial plans for a giant open cast mine on their doorstep.
They were among 185 people who showed their opposition to Scottish Coal’s proposals to extract two million tonnes of coal from a 154-hectare site at Airfield Farm, just west of the East Lothian village.
Marchers, also including protesters from the Climate Camp in Edinburgh, walked from the village hall in Cousland, Midlothian, to the site of the proposed development (see picture).
Dougie McKenzie, chair of the campaigning group Communities Against Airfield Open Cast (CAAOC), addressed the marchers beforehand.
He said: “Local people have real concerns not only about the impact this mine will have on local businesses, but also on our safety, particularly that of our children. ”
More than 730 objections to the proposal have been submitted to Midlothian Council’s planning department. A decision is expected in October.
Saturday’s march preceded the launch of a new campaign website - www.airfieldopencast.co.uk - by Lothians MSP Robin Harper.
Mr Robin Harper helped campaigners erect a road-side banner promoting the new website (see image), adjacent to the proposed site.
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