Legal challenge to coal reclamation scheme

CAMPAIGNERS are launching a legal challenge to a controversial coal reclamation scheme.

Cowley Residents Action Group is taking legal action against Sheffield City Council following its decision to grant planning permission to RecyCoal Ltd to reclaim coal from the former Hesley Wood Spoil Heap at Chapeltown.

The group says the decision to take legal action is based upon the council’s failure to take full account of the impact of the development on air quality as Sheffield is an Air Quality Action Zone and the planning framework requires them to take full account of air quality in the decision making process which appears not to be the case in this application.

The council also refused to undertake a Health Impact Assessment despite this being recommended by the Director of Public Health, CRAG says.

As of April 1 local authorities have the responsibility for public health and consequently health impact assessments are an internal activity for councils.

A similar scheme, Deanfield at Crofton, West Yorkshire, has been deferred by the council until such a health assessment has been undertaken, whilst a scheme near Bretton Country Park looks likely to be refused because of concerns raised about the potential community benefits of such a scheme.