Published: Sunday, 31st May, 2009 9:00am

Scottish Government Blasted Over Opencast Changes

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Robin Harper MSP has challenged Scottish Ministers over their decision last month to bring in sweeping new planning rules on opencast coal.

The new rules were condemned as an attempt to shield Ministers from the true cost to communities of a new generation of coal power.

Responding to questions asked by Robin Harper MSP (1) and the SNP's Aileen Campbell MSP, the Minister confirmed that local authorities, not the Scottish Government, will now be responsible for deciding the vast majority of opencast coal operations.

The Scottish Greens have also today lodged a motion (2) in Parliament calling for a moratorium on new opencast sites in Scotland and a phasing-out of coal power altogether.

Robin Harper MSP said:

"Local councils clearly have a vested interest in approving more opencast coal as they benefit hugely from coal revenues through business rates, levies and sponsorship deals. By issuing these sweeping new planning rules it seems that the Scottish Government is abandoning communities to another decade of local pollution and disruption simply to power an outdated energy model and in turn fuelling a global climate disaster.

"The Minister says that local councils are best placed to represent local communities and in general I agree but in this instance we are talking about vital national issues of energy supply and climate change. The renewable technologies already exist to make our energy supply completely clean and efficient. Ministers should put a halt to all new coal operations and give Scottish communities a break."