The item at the link might be of interest ... # Posted by Keith Harris at 6/12/12; 3:50:39 AM
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Does the Energy Bill mean an end to Opencast Mining?

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 16/8/12; 8:29:05 AM
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Car park on donkey field is approved

The Independent Panel on Forestry: "planning permission should be refused for developments that would adversely affect ancient woodlands [and] local authorities should have a "wood first" policy in their local plans to encourage its use in construction." # Posted by Steve Hooker at 4/7/12; 5:46:26 PM
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Domesday Book forests could return to England under woodland scheme - Telegraph

Planning Department

Telford & Wrekin Council

Civic Offices

Coach Central

Telford

TF3 4HD

18 April 2012

Dear Sirs:

Planning application: TWC/2012/0261

I would like to raise the following points in objection to Planning Application TWC/2012/0261 Donkey Field Community Project.  More information than is available in the covering letter for the application and the Design and Access Statement needs to be obtained before the proposed development is approved.

1.  I first should state that I have an interest in the outcome of the application as I am a homeowner from whose property the Donkey Field is clearly visible.  I also am a frequent user of Wrekin Course and the Little Wenlock road both as a driver and a walker. 

Access points

2.  The planned access is NOT safe.  Cars using the specified exit point will not be able to see traffic coming from the west because the road bends just to the west of the exit.  They also will not be able to see traffic approaching the brow of the hill from the east.  Cars using the specified entrance will not be able to see traffic coming from the west because of the bend and brow of the hill to the west of the entrance point.  I can say that this is the case as I have been using this stretch of Wrekin Course for over 32 years.  The application should not be approved before traffic safety officers have been consulted about the siting of the entrance and exit points.

3.  The assertion in the Statement that Wrekin Course “is straight” is misleading. It is a straight road along the base of the Wrekin UNTIL it reaches the bend just to the west of the proposed entrance and exit from the car park.  It is only if one ignores that bend  (and the rise in the road to the east of the exit point) that it can be said the road “provides good sight lines” at the proposed access points.

4.  It is incorrect to say, as the Statement asserts, that Wrekin Course “carries little traffic”. Again, from the vantage point of our house, I have observed for over thirty years that Wrekin Course is a road which receives a lot of use.  The use of the road also has steadily increased over the years.  A full, formal, survey of traffic on Wrekin Course  should be carried out before the application is decided on.

5.  It also should be noted that Wrekin Course is not a wide road.  Because of the poor condition of the road and verges it is often necessary for one car to pull over so that another car coming from the opposite direction can pass.  This is especially the case at the western approach to the bend where the forest comes down to the road, which is close to the proposed exit from the car park; and at the brow of the rise which is near the proposed entrance to the car park.  Any increase in traffic on Wrekin Course would not be recommended.  Again: a full formal traffic survey needs to be carried out before a decision is made on the application,

6.  The Statement says that “it is intended” that responsibility for locking the entrance and exit gates will be assumed by the operator of the catering van.  It is not clear what that will mean in practice.  Presumably the car park gates will only be unlocked at times when the catering van is manned.  What provision has been made for the hours of operation of the catering van?  Will those hours accommodate people who wish to use the car park early in the morning or in the late afternoon/evening.  Will the catering van operate daily on a year round basis?  The application should not be decided on without that information.

On-site catering

7.  No provision for dealing with the litter and other forms of waste inevitably arising from on-site catering and the provision of picnic facilities is mentioned in the Statement.  What guarantees are there that the operator of the catering van will responsibly deal with litter and waste?  If no firm provision is made there is a risk that an eyesore will be created.

8.  There is no mention of  sanitation facilities in the Statement.  The application covering letter refers in its 2^nd paragraph to “the possible provision of allotment gardens for local residents and the provision of toilets serviced by the catering providers”.  This wording does not amount to a commitment to providing either allotments or toilets.

9.  If there is catering planned, should there not also be a definite commitment to the provision of sanitation facilities from the beginning of the site's operation?  Is there any legal/planning requirement that such facilities have to accompany the provision of a fixed catering site? How will the cost of keeping the site clean and sanitary be met if there is to be free parking?  It is unrealistic to assert that 'volunteers' will be responsible for the long-term ongoing work of cleaning the site as frequently and thoroughly as will be necessary.  The application should not be approved until there is a detailed statement of how the recurrent costs of keeping the site clean and sanitary has been received from the applicant.

10.If sanitation facilities are provided what arrangement will be made to protect those facilities from the sort of vandalism and misuse that eventually led to the demolition of the toilets sited at the entrance to the main path up the Wrekin?  Approval should not be granted until details are given as to how the recurrent cost of maintaining the site's security will be met.

11.At various points in the Statement, the catering facility is referred to as the “cafe”.  Does this imply that there will be development of the catering from a 'mobile' van to a building?

12.All of these points about the proposed catering operation should be clarified before approval is given to the application.

Free parking

13.The Statement says the car park would be “free to use”.  It is stated that the owner of the field has agreed to a 3-year rent free period for use of the land. After that a “market rate” rent will be required for its use.  As the application covering letter says, this is a generous offer to the community.  However, what funding arrangements are in place to continue free use of the car park after 3 years?  Or will it become a fee payable car park from that point on in order to meet the cost of rent and other recurrent costs?  In the light of proposals in the Statement that “means of discouraging roadside parking employed such as 'no parking' notices” will be required – indicating that people will be forced into using the car park - no approval of the application should be given without clarification of what means, other than charging users for parking , will be used to secure the payment of the rent and recurrent costs required from year 4 onward of the car park's operation.

14.If roadside parking is to be made unlawful, a question of enforcement arises. Have the local police been consulted about the proposal to ban parking on the roadside, particularly in respect of how extensive the ban would be?

Traffic and visitor numbers

15.The underlying assumption in the application is that most visitors to the Wrekin will continue to make their way there by car.  This runs counter to the increasing attraction of providing some form of public transport from Wellington (where there is plenty of parking) to the Wrekin.  Providing public transport of some sort has both an ecological and environmental rationale.  If it was possible to do this in the 19^th and early 20^th century it should not be beyond devising in the 21^st century.

16.There also is an assumption in the application that there is a constant 'overflow'  of parked cars from the existing parking at the former Forest Glen site and on the roadside alongside the reservoir.  I have been told by people who regularly use both these existing parking areas that it is not the case that they are insufficient to meet the demand for parking at most times.  It is at weekends and on bank holidays – provided the weather is fine – that the existing formal and informal parking facilities come under pressure.  It surely makes more sense to improve the existing roadside and Forest Glen parking rather than to create a completely new parking area.

17.The Statement refers to one purpose of the application being “replacing the unsafe and visually intrusive roadside parking with attractive off-road parking”.  It is worth noting that there have been no recorded incidents of injury to people walking along the roadside toward or from the main path.  In fact there are no recorded vehicular accidents between cars parking on or leaving the roadside and cars making their way up or down the Little Wenlock road or Wrekin Course.

18.It is clearly the case that if the roadside parking were supplemented by a designated pedestrian way beside the road, the likelihood of an accident would decrease.  It also would be a major improvement to the use of roadside parking if it were clearly signed before entering the area where such parking occurs that drivers should be alert to cars or pedestrians coming into the road.  The fixing of a low speed limit for the approaches to the Wrekin would also help to prevent accidents..  All of these of these measures could be carried out without the need for the Donkey Field development.

19.An underlying but unspoken idea in the application seems to be as much to attract more visitors to the Wrekin as to make parking easier for the present visitor load. That will generate more traffic on the already congested Little Wenlock Road and certainly will add to the traffic on Wrekin Course.  In fact it may be the case that the provision of 40 additional off road parking spaces will prove to be inadequate to remove all of the roadside parking, putting those who do park on the roadside, rather than giving up their plan to visit the Wrekin, at risk of a fine for doing so.   Since this situation is most likely to arise at weekends and on bank holidays, the police view about enforcing a roadside parking ban (and how extensive such a ban should be) seems to be an essential element of the basket of factors to be weighed for and against the proposal. 

    Other points

20.There is long-standing concern about the impact of increasing numbers of visitors on the Wrekin.  Increased numbers may have an impact on the whole of the ecology of the Wrekin.  Any degradation of the flora and fauna associated with the Wrekin would be a serious loss to its standing as an ANOB.  The environmental survey carried out for the applicant is careful to note in its conclusion that, within the “limitations” of this survey there would be no direct risk to designated habitats or to protected and valued species from the proposed work on the site “provided that care is taken to avoid risks to roosting bats and disturbance of badgers, hedgehogs, nesting birds, reptiles and common  amphibians. Any work to the over mature tree that is in the site will need careful planning to avoid risks to bats and birds. Work to hedgerows will also need careful planning and management to avoid impacts on nesting birds.” (my emphasis).  Any approval of the application should be delayed until specific commitments about the way the works on the site will be carried out have been provided and are seen to satisfy the concern expressed in the above quotation.

21.The promotion of Wellington as one of the national “Walkers are Welcome” destinations would not be assisted by making more provision for visitors who arrive at the Wrekin without any contact with Wellington other than driving through it.  This would be to the disadvantage of those merchants who presently or might in future obtain trade from visitors who use Wellington as the base for setting out to visit the Wrekin.  Has any effort been made to appraise the opinion of Wellington merchants about the proposed development?

22.One of the proposals in the application is that some part of the Donkey Field could be developed as a site for allotments.  If this were the case, what reduction in the use of the 40 parking places provided as an alternative to roadside parking for people walking on the Wrekin would occur?  Would this be seen as an opening to increase the number of parking places on the Field?  If it is not seen as realistic to expect walkers to come out from Wellington by foot to use the Wrekin how realistic is it to assume that “local resident” allotment gardeners would do so?  Is there any evidence of demand for allotments which would support the idea of creating them on the Donkey Field?

23.The Statement refers to  the possible extension of car parking onto “overflow space” if the 40 spaces initially provided are regularly not enough.  Given that the present planned use amounts to only 16% of the area of the Donkey Field it is possible to envisage the development of a very large car park on the Field.  It would be inappropriate for approval to be given to this application without some strong provision in that approval requiring, further detailed enquiry into the existing usage and cost/benefit of the 40 space car park, before any extension of the parking area would be approved.

24.It is certainly misleading to say that a car park on the Donkey Field would be less visually intrusive than the present roadside parking.  The Donkey Field can be seen clearly as one approaches the Wrekin from Wellington or the M54 up the Little Wenlock road.  In fact almost the first view of the Wrekin along the Little Wenlock road is of the Donkey Field.  Is a car park for 40 cars (or its extension later on) the first thing visitors to the Wrekin should be confronted with?

25.The visual aspect of the roadside parking also could be improved if the area being used for parking were re-surfaced and marked out to provide more formal parking spaces.  The present ad hoc use of the roadside for parking could be reduced without the need to create a new space in the Donkey Field.

26. In the covering letter for the application it is stated that this is a “community (volunteer) led project”.  Community involvement in the care and maintenance of the Wrekin, which is, after all, the most important physical amenity in East Shropshire, is to be welcomed, as is the support of the Huntington Lane Mining Community Trust.  However, as is the case here, where there are proposals which involve recurrent cash costs, it is essential that the means of defraying those costs that are not likely to be met by 'volunteer' work over the mid-to-long term are spelled out. 

I hope that the points raised above will be helpful to you in reaching your decision to approve the application as it stands or not.  Please feel free to contact me if you wish to have clarification of any of the points made.

Yours sincerely,

Jim Clevenger

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 19/4/12; 6:36:24 PM
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26 objections to the donkey field car park

In the Red Lion, Wellington. Now I had bothered to read this. I can see a tough case to fight. Certainly, it's an idea that will spread further to toilets, extra parking, a visitor centre, picnic tables, etc. Bye donkey field. # Posted by Steve Hooker at 13/4/12; 7:06:05 PM
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Donkey field meeting 8pm Tuesday 17th April

A planning application has now been lodged with Telford and Wrekin Council to construct a ‘40 place car park and hard-standing for a mobile catering unit’ on the field known as The Donkey Field, which is at the Wellington end of the Wrekin Course. The application id code is TWC/2012/0261 and can be viewed via the Telford and Wrekin Council website. The deadline for comment on the application is 25th April 2012. # Posted by Steve Hooker at 11/4/12; 2:12:12 PM
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Donkey field turned into a car park?

This meeting had been called as part of the consultation on the development of The Wrekin Forest Landscape Conservation Plan.

This involved participants marking out on a large scale plan what they perceived to be the boundaries of The Wrekin Forest. The response fell into three main categories:

The main footprint of The Wrekin, The Ercall and Limekiln Woods

A much larger area reaching down to Ironbridge Gorge and encompassing Wellington

An area somewhere between 1 and 2

Participants were asked to give their views in a brainstorming session onto a Flipchart of the POSITIVES they felt about The Wrekin Forest and some of the THREATS it faced.

Another mapping exercise involved commenting on the local road infrastructure

A series of focussed workshops will be held between now and the end of the year to elicit further views from Wrekin Forest Partnership members and a Public Consultation event will be held in the Autumn. There appeared to be some reluctance to earlier public consultation events until “A framework and reasonable plan had been produced that could be taken forward”

Other opportunities to comment on matters affecting The Wrekin include Telford and Wrekin Borough Council’s Shaping Places consultation available on:

http://www.telford.gov.uk/info/1004/planning_policy/1218/shaping_places

The renewal of the statutory plan for local Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is due in 2014

Further updates for All Friends Round The Wrekin will be given as the “consultation” proceeds

Paul Kalinauckas

Chair

All Friends round The Wrekin

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 23/2/12; 10:07:17 AM
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Notes from Wrekin Forest Partnership Meeting – 20 February 2012

Greetings from your Treasurer!  # Posted by Steve Hooker at 13/12/11; 1:17:10 PM
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Minutes of meeting held 6th December 2011

Just received this from our new man, Paul, on the Wrekin Forest Partnership mini quango, since George Evans wanted someone else to do it.
BTW Wrekin Friends are having another meeting at the Red Lion, Wellington 7.30, 6th December, all welcome.

Dear All - please find attached my notes from The Wrekin Forest Partnership Meeting.

Key issues we need to discuss are our input into the next Wrekin Forest Landscape Conservation Plan and thoughts on Regional Park status.

Regards Paul Kalinauckas # Posted by Steve Hooker at 20/11/11; 9:17:09 PM
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Fwd: WFP Meeting Notes

We're having another meeting, at at the Red Lion, Wellington.  # Posted by Steve Hooker at 31/10/11; 4:43:45 PM
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Mini AFRTW meeting 1st Nov 7.30pm

Volunteers help preserve The Wrekin's history « Shropshire Star: 

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 6/10/11; 8:16:48 PM
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Volunteers help preserve The Wrekin's history « Shropshire Star

Tim ticks off Wrekin challenge number 27 « Shropshire Star: "A charity fundraiser from Shropshire continued his year-long challenge climbing The Wrekin by carrying a set of skis to the top of the hill. # Posted by Steve Hooker at 2/10/11; 10:30:03 AM
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Tim ticks off Wrekin challenge number 27

ALL FRIENDS ROUND THE WREKIN

Red Lion Inn, Wellington, Shropshire

In attendance:
George Evans              President
George Walker            Treasurer
Paul Kalinauckas         Chairman
Anji Smith

The meeting opened at 8.00 pm.
The minutes of the meeting on July 5^th were read and agreed a true record of the proceedings.
The minutes were taken by George Walker in the absence of the Secretary.

Paul reported that he and Penny Wysome had surveyed the Donkey Field and whilst no special interest was discovered, 39 recognised species of flora were documented. Peruse and enjoy The Donkey Field Fauna, kindly presented by Paul.

The Donkey Field is classed as "improved grassland" and zoned as agricultural land. It is not a site of special scientific interest but just shows the wide variety of plants populating areas adjoining The Wrekin. . With regard to the Donkey Field being used as an allotment site, this was thought to be unlikely owing to the poor quality of the soil.

Paul said that he would be attending the Wrekin Forest Partnership meeting in his position of Chairman of AFRW.

George the Elder commented that he would like to see some kind of unusual transport linking Wellington with the Wrekin. This could either be Horse-Drawn or a historical method of transport, ie, a Charabang.

Visitor Anji Smith took part in some discussion during the meeting and was invited onto the Committee as Social Secretary but has declined owing to other commitments.

We note that the protesters residing on the Wrekin have been evicted from their camp and we would like to acknowledge their efforts in keeping the objections to the open cast mining in the public eye.

George the Elder, President, thanked those present for their attendance at the meeting.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.15 pm

George Walker,
Treasurer.

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 22/9/11; 1:49:44 AM
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5th September 2011 Meeting

We're having another meeting, at at the Red Lion, Wellington. It'll be a quiet affair, and I'll report back here afterwards. # Posted by Steve Hooker at 4/9/11; 12:07:09 PM
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Mini AFRTW meeting 6th Sept 7.30pm

Eviction ends Telford coal protest « Shropshire Star: "Suzy Murphy, one of the protesters, said: "They came in this morning and there was about 20 of them.

"They came in with a full team of tunnellers and cherry pickers. They caught us a bit unaware because some had gone off site."

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 21/8/11; 6:03:23 AM
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Coal protesters caught napping

COURT PAPERS SERVED: "The camp site has been served a court notice earlier today with summons for a hearing on the 15th of July -- this Friday.

Court time is @ 10.am, The Telford County Court, Telford Square, Malinsgate, Telford,TF3 4JB 

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 13/7/11; 2:24:44 PM
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Eviction Imminent! « Defend Huntington Lane

Anti-mining protesters in Telford « Shropshire Star: "Police were called to UK Coal's mine in Telford today after protesters ran onto the site and chained themselves to diggers.  # Posted by Steve Hooker at 6/7/11; 2:56:54 PM
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Anti-mining protesters in Telford

AFRTW are having a mini meeting. There's the donkey field being turned into a car park and the rifle range being turned into an allotment and not a lot else, probably some housekeeping regarding AFRTW itself. # Posted by Steve Hooker at 16/6/11; 1:13:07 PM
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7.30 on Tuesday, 5th July at the Red Lion, Wellington

Hi I have just become a member so that I can learn more about the Wrekin Hill. I am a fund-raiser for Shropshire Mind and one of our volunteers would like to do a challenge at Easter by walking The Wrekin 20 times in 24 hours, as a sponsored event to raise funds for Shropshire Mind. We would like to know if there are any recorded records already set on this.

I look forward to your reply

Many Thanks

Tracy # Posted by Steve Hooker at 11/11/10; 12:46:04 PM
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Round The Wrekin 20 times

I'm one of the activists from London that Pat generously picked up and drove up to the camp on the day we arrived, giving us a guided tour of the mine workings on the way.

I just wanted to write and let you know what a revelation it was to come and spend a few days living at the protest camp. Having seen the destruction being caused by the Huntington Lane SMS in the context of the Wrekin and the surrounding woodlands, and having met the long term activists and local residents who are fighting UK Coal, I've developed a much firmer resolve to support this campaign as much as possible. Living in London, and hearing about campaigns that are going on all over the world, it's sometimes difficult to appreciate these kinds of activities are still having a huge impact in our own back yard. Hopefully I'll be able to get a few more people interested in this campaign, so we can put some serious pressure on UK Coal.

Let me know if you think there's anything I might be able to help you with. I'm planning on coming back up to the camp in a couple of weeks for an extended stay, so there will be plenty of opportunity to move things forward.

All the best, Ian # Posted by Steve Hooker at 29/10/10; 1:43:05 PM
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Eco warrior writes...

I am a lecturer in media production at Coventry University and would really like to set up a project to get a group of students to come down and do a series of short film/interview looking at what is happening around the Wrekin and also documenting some of the traditions of the area.

It would mean a series of short interviews with as many local people as possible. The students are doing an MA in media production and so are sensible. The day I have in mind to come down would be the 11th November and there would be 20 of us. Interviews with farmers, local residents (especially the elderly) would all be fine. We would give copies of the finished films to you for your site and also post them on the university website as an example of how students should engage in important local issues.

Could you let me know if this is possible - my number is xxxxx xxx xxx if you want to talk to me beforehand or email me your number and I will call you back.

All the best

Ken Fero Senior Lecturer in Media Production Coventry School of Art and Design

(If you would like to attend this event, please add a comment below.) # Posted by Steve Hooker at 29/10/10; 10:17:05 AM
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Let us be famous

Having read the patronising comments, made by the UK Coal mouthpiece, Oliver, In Monday 1Oth October 2010 edition of the Shropshire Star, with regard to myself, and “comments to be expected”. Now my comments with regard to Oliver and UK Coal being good neighbours. If they are at all to be regarded as neighbours, they are the neighbours from hell! Very few want them here, they have no good intentions, purely commercial. Have little or no regard for the environment and as there actions are showing they have moved onto the block and creating Hell!

Returning the site to “tip top condition”. I am sure he will be true to his words and return the site to looking like top of the tip condition. Just look further on my photograph. The former coal open cast sites have far from been returned to a natural landscape. Yes I appreciate it is difficult if not impossible to restore. Go back two centuries or so. The product which Oliver's Army is purveying, it was was once thought acceptable to send children up chimneys to remove the products of its combustion. Move on two centuries or so. Mid 20th Century. It was thought acceptable to rape, pillage and permanently scar landscapes, for the filth that lies beneath. It is now 2010. This is no longer acceptable. Remember Oliver's former Armies British Coal, or was it NCB at that time, slogan “Coal, Fuel Of The Future”. Coal is a fuel of the past. Whichever one's views on energy requirements,eco, renewable, or nuclear the burning of low quality fossil fuel is last century. The reserves need to be left where they belong. Buried.

The Wrekin will prevail in all this and will be there for many millions of years after all of us have long since demised.

_A Quiet Walk._

At present I am on what is termed “Gardening leave”. I have been trying to put things in order prior to taking up a new position. That actually is based in the homeland of Oliver's Army. Trust me the landscape in that area has been devastated by his Armies actions over the years.

Having been out and about, walking . And having been deluged by stairods in Snowdonia on Tuesday, I decided on a quiet local meander. From Ironbridge towards Braggers Hill returning via Benthall Edge. Heading towards the bridge that crosses the Ironbridge Bypass. I was aware of a background noise, Emerging across the bridge and heading toward Braggers Hill the noise gets louder. Walking up the gentle incline it emerges from where this noise is emanating from. Yes you guessed it Oliver's Armies yellow ants crawling over the distant landscape. I was not looking for that one. Coal was not on my mind today. It found me. Visually and audibly. As Queen Vickie would say. I am not amused. The noise incessant!

Eventually, Oliver's Armies were sorted out, Indeed here in Shropshire Oak Apple day 29^th May. (Aston on Clun) is still celebrated.

And the Wrekin Prevails!

Steve Turvey Photos enclosed View from Braggers Hill. Visibility and noise A defiant looking Wrekin, from the viewpoint of UK Coal

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 21/10/10; 9:46:08 AM
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Olivers Army

The battle's not lost yet, there's a long way to go before the 44 month deadline arrives, if local feeling galvanises into action,then maybe, just maybe, the profit margins will slip away to nothing - its certainly costing Uk Coal a lot of money to secure the site that they have managed to get onto, there's an almost paranoid use of excessive Security,as pictures below will show, one worker, 5 thugs to watch over him, as he works on the peripheral edge of the secured boundary.

Strange how when I stopped to take some pictures this afternoon, there were frantic phone calls from one thug,and then 4 more arrived at the gate, but then became camera shy all of a sudden.

They were not too happy when told they would be known countrywide within 24 hours.

The pictures of these guys will of course, be circulated to every Eco warrior, and anti opencast mine protest groups countrywide, to enable identification should they pop up elsewhere.

The wonder of the Internet never ceases to amaze me.

If anyone doubts the destruction that this company can cause in a mere 24 hours, go take a walk around the junction with Dog in the lane, and Huntington, where the entrance can be found.

Further pictures will be posted as the site sadly grows.

Im afraid megabyte upload restricts the posting of videos, before, and today, but these should be able to be viewed on Paganspace.net, on the group Opencast mining Opposition by Pagans and Eco Warriors, sometime late tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks to George the Elder for his words of support.

Regards, Pat.






# Posted by Steve Hooker at 14/10/10; 7:53:38 PM
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War

Well done chaps, keep it up. Wish I could be more help. UP THE REBELS! AND MAY THE DEVIL RAIN PEBBLESTONES ON THE TOES OF OUR ENEMIES THAT WE MAY KNOW THE BUGGERS BY THEIR LIMP. ALL FRIENDS ROUND THE WREKIN. George the Ancient. # Posted by Jenny Smith at 14/10/10; 10:04:21 AM
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George Evans' fighting talk

EQUINOX Does everyone know that on Tuesday 21.9. at noon local time, (12+10mins GMT)provided the sun is shining, a shaft of light will shine through the western rocks of the Calendar Stone on The Wrekin?

Don't believe it? Go and see for yourself. Many people have witnessed this phenomenon.

George the Ancient. # Posted by Steve Hooker at 21/9/10; 9:13:04 AM
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Shaft of light through the Calendar Stone

Tom, as in Tom on The Wrekin, tells me he's heard that T&W Council is about to demolish the Palatial Public Privy at the foot of The Wrekin. Anybody want to comment?

George the Ancient. # Posted by Steve Hooker at 11/8/10; 9:29:04 PM
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Demolish bogs

We do get lots of birds of prey soaring high above The Wrekin and the area surrounding Little Wenlock.

I have not seen as much of them lately.

There are lot's of gaming interests in the area (e.g. around Little Wenlock) so I hope the birds are OK.

I have seen a few big birds of prey near to the 'game rearing' areas at the back of Little Wenlock.

It would be nice to know more about these birds of prey e.g. species etc.

We got a new Game Warden about six months ago, lots of authoritarian signs went up on our local paths.

I was told off by him for taking a short cut down a farm path across a field.

It would be interesting to know how 'right to roam' applies to the surrounding area.

Mail from Stephen Law # Posted by Steve Hooker at 24/7/10; 10:00:05 PM
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Birds of prey, preyed upon?

Could we now start to put pressure on Mark Pritchard MP? His opposite number, David Wright, failed to get his Labour Government to rescind planning permission for the devastation of The Wrekin Forest. Can Pritchard do better now his party is in power? He must know that most of his voters are against the coal mine, so must understand that he would be regarded as a hero if he can make it. Maybe he could also pressurise T & W Council to act.

Also - New Works people have been offered a sop of a committee to alleviate the disruption of the mining. They should beware. I have been on such a group and although there were sympathetic people on the coal board's payroll, it all got us nowhere. 'Head office' scuttled anything that might not profit the mine company. It's all a 'con'.

I'm looking forward to meeting the rebels again. May they flourish and conquer.

George the Ancient # Posted by Steve Hooker at 5/6/10; 10:32:03 PM
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Pressuring Pritchard MP

Wrekin campaigners digging in for a fight « Shropshire Star: "They say it will stop UK Coal from bringing diggers onto the site and starting work to mine 900,000 tonnes of coal for fear of the tunnels collapsing and injuring someone.

But Chris Crouch, spokesman for UK Coal, called the protesters' actions "irresponsible" and said an eviction notice would now have to be served on them."

Go! Eco Warriors! Go!

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 29/5/10; 5:24:30 PM
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Shropshire Star: Digging in for a fight

The coal hole protesters know the many drift mines throughout the site. Each one could harbour a spiral up shaft, only by digging, prop-shafting all the way up would the removal teams find out for certain that some one is holed up or not. It's a big cost for each and takes much time. With such a large site, at night, it would be fairly easy to creep back into already checked defences.

With UK Coal's share price at a 52 month low, it'll only get lower. (Note the insider traders and short sellers: don't tell 'em I told you!)

With the fort, the tree house, the other 'tank' structure, these people are serious, know what they're doing and have every chance of success : ) Nine Ladies in Derbyshire had been going on six years when this was written. In 2008 the eco warriors finally won their nine year battle.

I visited this morning, they've got a big kitchen with a sign, "No Children Allowed." Apparently, kids go in and scoff all the food. The kitchen even has a sink. The taps don't work and this is a big joke there every time someone turns them on. Happens a lot appaz.

Here's to the eco warriors! True friends round The Wrekin!




BTW: I'm not breaking any big news here. The police have already been up and photographed some of the shafts.

And note to journalists: you're free to print these pictures!
# Posted by Steve Hooker at 27/5/10; 9:39:46 PM
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Many mineshafts means much money