Environmental Group


	A Committee was elected at a meeting of High Lane West residents on 24th February 2003, and requested to raise awareness in West Hallam of the Shipley West Opencast Planning Application by UK Coal. There then followed a couple of meetings before WHEG was formally constituted at the first AGM held on 30 April 2003, with more general objectives than just the opencast objections.

The Group is established for the public benefit for the following purposes in the area comprising the Parish of West Hallam, in the Borough of Erewash, Derbyshire, and neighbouring Parishes, known as “the area of benefit”,

to stimulate public interest in environmental matters in the area of benefit
to ensure planning applications are sympathetic to the environment in the area of benefit
to secure the protection and enhancement of the environment in the area of benefit

WHEG submitted the Full Objection Report to the proposed Reclamation and Surface Mining Scheme by UK Coal to DCC on 7^th July.

The Executive Summary is that it was WHEG’s considered view that approval of the planning application would be:

A breach of Government and Local Planning policy guidelines.
A breach of law to damage or destroy habit (Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981).
A dereliction of duty of care to protect the health and well being of the community.
Open to challenge under the Human Rights Act 1998 “Right to Life”.

and that the planning application be rejected on the grounds that it will:

Have a significant detrimental impact on the local community and the environment.
Destroy a site of significant cultural, industrial and ecological importance.

WHEG now has it’s own website (as yet undeveloped) at www.wheg.co.uk and is featured on the website www.westhallam.info

WHEG contacts

Peter Steiner (0115) 9303426

Jan Whitaker (0115) 9306541

John Chambers (Membership Secretary) (0115) 9320752