Our spokesperson Alistair Ford explained to BBC North East and Cumbria why we're opposing the plans for a new open cast coal mine on the edge of Newcastle at Dewley Hill. We have ten years to drastically cut carbon emissions, so must keep fossil fuels in the ground. The added air and noise pollution would harm health, particularly of children. Plus we don't want to see more heavy site traffic adding to pollution locally, or yet more loss of green space and wildlife.
Mining company Banks Group spokesperson themselves admit "We're trying to get to the coal while there is still a market for it". That's short-term private profit over health of people or planet. Yet another reason we're calling on the council to declare a Climate Emergency and put climate at the heart of policy and planning.
A petition against the coal mine proposal now has 15,000 signatures. If you want to object, here's how:
https://www.facebook.com/savenewcastlewildlife/posts/2125977290977025?sfnsw=cl
