We have produced a template objection letter to submit to Newcastle City Council. 

Please add your own comments so that each letter/email is considered an individual objection.

15,000 people have signed the online petition but it is imperative objections are submitted directly to the council's planning department.

Please email your comments to david.grimshaw@newcastle.gov.uk with an open copy to planning.control@newcastle.gov.uk, quoting planning application 2019/0300/01/DET in the subject. 

Thank you for your support. 

______________________________________________________

Dear Mr Grimshaw,

RE: 2019/0300/01/DET

I strongly object to the above planning application on the grounds that it contravenes local and national policies on climate change, green infrastructure, Green Belt, landscape character, health and wellbeing, and biodiversity. The National Planning Policy Framework states, at Paragraph 211, that planning permission should not be granted for the extraction of coal where the proposal is not environmentally acceptable. There are no national, local or community benefits to outweigh the harmful impacts and the applicant's proposed 'restoration first' proposals are inadequate.

Mining operations would have a significant adverse effect of residential amenity and result in noise, dust and disruption, contrary to Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan (CSUCP) Policy CS14.

A huge opencast coal mine would contravene local and national targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contrary to CSUCP Policy CS16.

The proposal would damage a wildlife corridor and would result in the loss of 23 individual trees, as well of 11 groups of trees and 26 hedgerows. It would also severely harm priority habitats and species (including several bat and bird species, Brown Hare, Badger) contrary to CSUCP Policy CS18 and UDP Policy NC1.1, NC1.5 and NC1.7.

The proposals would result in loss of and temporary diversion of public rights of way, contrary to Policy CSUCP NV3 and UDP Policy OS1.2.

The proposals would harm the Landscape character of the area and that of Throckley Dene, which is a highly sensitive area of ancient semi-natural woodland, contrary to CSUCP Policy CS1 and UDP Policy EN3 and EN3.1.

The Dewley Burn will be adversely affected by runoff from this development, contrary to UDP Policy EN4, which aims to protect river settings.

This proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt and would harm openness and the purposes of including the land within the Green Belt, contrary to NPPF Paragraphs 145 and 146 and CSUCP Policy CS19. There are no very special circumstances to outweigh Green Belt harm.

Newcastle City Council and the UK government has set a target to significantly reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Given that these proposals conflict with the above CSUCP and UDP policies, as well as the NPPF and carbon emissions targets, I urge you to refuse this application.

Yours sincerely,

(insert name)