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In order to enable people to be kept up to date with developments affecting the Minorca Application, a series of Briefing Notes are under development. Check here to see if any new Briefing Notes have been issued or if any existing Briefing Notes have been updated: It is envisaged that these notes will be easier to digest and will eventually take over from the newsletter.
This Briefing Note explains the origin of the 500 Metre Buffer Zone around Opencast / Surface Mines in the United Kingdom, firstly in Scotland and then in Wales. It then chronicles attempts made, so far unsuccessfully, to have a similar policy introduced in England.
This Briefing Note outlines arguments that can be deployed to support the introduction of 500 metre buffer zones between opencast mine sites and houses. This is very much a ‘work in progress’ document which will be added too as the arguments are developed further.
This Briefing Note contains past and current financial information about UK Coal plc, especially information about the profit and loss made on its coal operations. It also indicates why this is relevant to the Minorca Surface Mine Application.
This Briefing Note firstly outlines MOPG’s existing arguments against the Need for Coal in our submissions objecting to the Minorca Surface Mine Application. It then brings the information up to date by reviewing recent trends in the differential use of energy resources for Power Generation. After reviewing the evidence, including changes in Government Policy over how to ensure secure Energy Supplies, this briefing note concludes that, given the state of the Energy Market it suits UK Coal plc to delay proceeding with this application for as long as possible. However, in doing so, UK Coal plc face the prospect of having to try and sell this coal in a rapidly shrinking market for coal for energy generating purposes for the foreseeable future.
With a new round of consultations on the Minorca Application about the begin this Briefing Note outlines what is about to happen.
Briefing Note 6: A3) THE MINORCA APPLICATION AND THE RIVER MEASE SAC August 2010
This Briefing Note outlines what a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Special Site of Scientific Investigation (SSSI) is, why these designations are applied to the River Mease Catchment Area and what the importance of the existence of the River Mease SAC is to the Minorca Application.
This Briefing Note outlines the ‘Lounge Issue’ saga, and explains why the current state of the site, labelled ‘derelict’ and an ‘eyesore’ by a Planning Inspector, should be considered as a Material Consideration when determining UK Coal’s Surface Mine Application for Minorca.
Briefing Note 8: D2) UK COAL plc AND THE FINANCIAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MINORCA APPLICATION August 2010
The Minorca Opencast Protest Group (MOPG), in this Briefing Note develops a new argument that they will be putting to Leicestershire County Council on why UK Coal plc’s application for a Surface Mine on the Minorca site should be rejected. As this Briefing Note explains, this is because the present dire financial state of the Company coupled with recent changes that the Company has announced over its structure and operations increase the risks that work to restore the site will not be completed, that the plan to restore part of the Ashby Canal may not be honoured and that should damage occur to the River Mease Special Area of Conservation as a result of working the Minorca Surface Mine site, no liable party may be on hand to meet the costs incurred.
Briefing Note 9: C1) UK COAL'S FINANCIAL SITUATION AND THE MINORCA APPLICATION 2ND EDITION August 2010
This Briefing Note contains past and current financial information, including final first half 2010 figures, about UK Coal plc, especially information about the profit and loss made on its coal operations. It also indicates why this is relevant to the Minorca Surface Mine Application
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** NEW SECTION ** Briefing Notes 
