Newton Lane Surface Mine

Banks Mining has identified a deposit of coal in an area to the east of Ledston Village in Leeds, which we propose to recover through surface mining, we have named the site Newton Lane. We undertook a search to identify new surface mining sites in Yorkshire to replace those that have been completed; the Newton Lane site was identified from this exercise.

 

Please click here to read a pdf version of the Environmental Statement Part 1- Further Information April 2010.

Please click here to read a pdf version of the Environmental Statement Part 2- Further Information April 2010.

• We have identified approximately 875,000 tonnes of coal at the site, which could provide indigenous coal to the local Aire Valley power stations.
• The duration of the site is expected to be around five years, which includes the mining operation and restoration.
• The site would operate from Monday to Friday 7am-7pm and on Saturday 7am-1pm.
• There would be approximately 41 jobs on site
• The coal wagons will be directed away from Ledston Village travelling from the site along Back Newton Lane onto the A656.
• An average of five coal lorries per hour would leave the site.

After lengthy consultations and environmental assessments, we submitted a planning application to Leeds City Council in Dec 2006. As a result of questions raised by the local community and interested parties, we have undertaken additional extensive ground investigation works. At the same time, a large Archaeological trial trenching exercise was undertaken.  Supplementary information was submitted to Leeds City Council. 

 

We are recognised in the industry as a leader in the innovation of environmental controls and have recently won a number of awards to confirm this. We are confident that we could work the Newton Lane site in an environmentally acceptable way.

The Newton Lane scheme would have a site specific environmental management plan, which is included in the planning application. This is designed to the high standards set out in The Banks Group Environmental Policy.

The site is currently used mainly as arable agricultural land. Our proposals would be to restore most of the site to agriculture, but also provide new features which include the following:

• Creation of water bodies/seasonal wetland in the flood plain in the southern part of the site
• Planting of new hedgerows (to replace those removed by modern farming) and trees where they will enhance the landscape
• New footpaths and bridleways

Please click here to read a pdf version of the non technical summary of the application.