MSP SAYS 10M TONNE MIDLOTHIAN COAL MINE IS ILLOGICAL
Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian and a member of Holyrood's economy and energy committee, says a recommendation by council officials to approve a ten million tonnes open cast coal mine in Midlothian is illogical.
Councillors will tomorrow (19 Nov) consider a planning application by Hargreaves Services to mine Cauldhall Moor, an important wildlife habitat south of Bonnyrigg.
Alison said:
"The impacts on local communities from this proposal, such as noise, dust and heavy traffic, are completely unacceptable. It is utterly illogical to approve yet more coal mining given a whole host of factors.
"Cockenzie power station is switched off so there's nowhere local for this coal to go; Scotland has already failed its first two annual climate targets so more fossil fuel is the last thing we need; and we've seen landscapes across Scotland scarred by open cast being abandoned by companies that go bust.
"Hargreaves' plan is contrary to the Local Plan and the council's economic development strategy. Midlothian deserves better; I hope the councillors see sense and reject it."