RJB Mining’s application to mine coal in North Warwickshire has been rejected by Warwickshire County Council.

Local protesters in the Dordon area where the company planned a huge open cast mine, now face an anxious six months wait to see whether RJB will appeal to the Secretary of State.

The company planned to dig out 450,000 tons of coal from a 50 hectare site known as The Orchard. The process would have lasted three years and at the end the plan was to restore the site to agricultural use and woodland.

But after an extensive survey and investigation, planning officers at Warwickshire County Council submitted a report to the Operations Sub-committee recommending the rejection of the mining application.

Planning officer Neil Hall said:

"We took into account the dust levels, the nuisance which would be caused by hundreds of lorry journeys to and from the site, the noise levels, the visual impact and close proximity to residences. The Highways Authority also recommended rejection because of the access on to the busy A5 road."

After reading the planning officers’ report, the Operations Sub-committee rejected the application. RJB now have a six months deadline to reassess the situation and decide whether to appeal to the secretary of state. If they do so there will be a public inquiry.