Coal reclamation project given go-ahead
RECYCOAL’S chief executive Tom Allchurch has expressed his delight after the company was given the green light to extract almost 400,000 tonnes of coal from a controversial site in Sheffield.
Residents and campaign groups had been against the plans for the project at Hesley Wood, arguing it would spoil the area, damage the environment, increase traffic volumes and lead to health problems for residents.
However, councillors yesterday gave permission for Doncaster-based coal tip restoration business RecyCoal to carry out the work at the old spoil heap.
A number of residents spoke out against the scheme at a meeting in Sheffield yesterday.
Mr Allchurch said: “I am delighted that our application to restore the Hesley Wood site has gained planning approval from Sheffield City Council. Our proposed scheme will create a visually appealing and environmentally enhancing alternative to the spoil heap that currently occupies the site and create much needed jobs and economic activity.
“RecyCoal looks forward to delivering the environmental and economic benefits the scheme brings to the local community.”
The Hesley Wood spoil heap was used for the disposal of colliery waste from the former Smithy Wood Colliery. Approximately 3.3m cubic metres of waste material will be processed, producing 395,000 tonnes of coal.
The coal reclamation project will take three years, after which RecyCoal will manage the 50 hectare site for five years, restoring it to woodland, grassland and wetlands.
The coal recovery operations will create around 35 jobs.
RecyCoal is involved in a similar scheme at Rossington, near Doncaster.
