Row ignites over Brownhills clay mine investigations
Families in Brownhills have raised fears over the impact of any future open cast mining on the area after it emerged a site earmarked for homes is being investigated.
Walsall Council is looking into the ownership of mineral rights for the land which borders Lime Lane, in Norton Canes; Norton Road, Pelsall, and Brownhills Common. It has been identified as a potential site for fire clay extraction.
The rare mineral is used in the manufacture of ceramics, especially fire brick.
Now Brownhills Local Committee chairman Doug Birch has asked council bosses to act to remove a long-standing planning consent at the site, running from 1954 to 2044, in a bid to prevent any future mining activity.
Walsall Council's planning policy officer Mike Smith said any such legal action would run into millions of pounds and there was no guarantee of a successful challenge.
Mr Birch said: "I am aware that there is a marked reluctance by local authorities to rescind or oppose applications on the grounds of the financial implications.
"I'm also very aware of the devastating effect over many years of mining and waste disposal upon generations of people in our community, the most recent being the Birch Coppice site. I am old enough to remember when it was a large area of woodland filled with broad mature trees.
"These were all destroyed when open cast clay mining commenced at the beginning of World War Two. From then until comparatively recently residents have suffered from noise, dust and ground pollution and to this day regular flooding of the Coppice area due to the construction of brook courses by the mining activity. I believe the community has suffered enough."
Mr Smith said work was under way to check the legal issues, land ownership and mineral rights regarding the site. Under a European directive no mining can been carried out unless an environmental impact report is submitted. The site is listed in the Black Country Joint Core Strategy as part of a multi-million pound scheme to provide 60,000 new homes and 300,000 square yards of retail space.
