The work will be carried out over the eight-year lifetime of the project.

Northumberland County Council's planning and regulation committee had refused permission in July 2006 for the application, and a public inquiry was held in March 2007 which heard submissions from the three main parties – Northumberland County Council, HJ Banks and SCRAM (Support Cramlington Residents Against Mining).

But Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears upheld the appeal lodged by Banks for the 750-acre site.

Managing director at Banks, Steve Harrison, said the firm's current Delhi site near Seaton Burn, which is scheduled to finish coaling in 2009, showed what lengths the energy firm had gone to in order to reduce the impact on local residents.

"One of the major issues from the public inquiry into the Shotton mine was dust, and looking around the Delhi site you can see we have implemented a number of measures with a view to the Shotton development," he said.

"We believe in order to control dust we must control it at source.
"We wet the site at the time of excavation in order to stop the dust getting into the air.

"We also have spray measures around the site in order to combat the potential for dust.

"Noise was also a concern at the public inquiry, and the Delhi site over the road from Shotton was particularly sensitive because of the close proximity to residential housing, so we have introduced measures on the vehicles we use.

"These help reduce noise levels, and we have achieved a reduction in the noise level by ten decibels to 13 decibels which is a significant achievement.

"We have spent £2m to reduce dust and noise within our Delhi site in preparation for work beginning at Shotton and at our proposed site at Brenkley.

"We have to pay particular attention to these issues when we are in such close proximity to local houses and residential areas, and with Cramlington we had to be aware of the many pharmaceutical companies and their needs."

The Delhi site, which has been in operation since 2002, is one of several Banks operates in the area – and the energy firm has now started consultation on proposals for surface mining operations on land nearby at Brenkley.

Mr Harrison added: "The mining industry still plays an important role in the north east economy, in terms of revenues generated, employment and support to associated industries."

On completion of coaling, the Delhi site is to be restored to open parkland as it was prior to the 1950s, when the first surface mining activity was undertaken there.

At Shotton, a 500-metre long earth form of a naked woman will be created in the form of 'Northumberlandia'.

"The Banks Group is extremely conscious of its environmental responsibilities and we are renowned within our industry for the lengths we go to in this area, both as work is being carried out and after it has finished," added Mr Harrison.

"The Delhi site is already recognised as a world-class centre of excellence for the development of innovative environment controls, and we have made significant investments in this area over the last few years.

"At Shotton, the Northumberlandia earth form will be created between years two and four of operation, and it is hoped we will be able to create a great tourist attraction for the area.

"There are similar sites around the country where we have carried out such restorations, and the benefits to the local communities are many and varied."

It is hoped the workforce on the Delhi site will move to the Shotton mine when work is finished in 18 months time, alongside a number of new staff that would also be employed.

Mr Harrison said: "Currently we have 40 employed on the Delhi site, and the Shotton site will provide continued employment for those as well as providing 50 new jobs, which will increase to 100 as work progresses."

"I am hoping the majority of those jobs will be local."

But not everyone is happy with the opencast.

SCRAM member and Blyth Valley councillor, Wayne Daley, said he would fight to ensure quality work is carried out throughout the eight-year lifespan of the project, and would be watching to make sure Banks fulfilled the promises they have made.

"We were disappointed the application was approved, because the majority of people in Cramlington opposed the application.

"We have to live with the decision of a minister made in London, and as councillors we have to make sure the work is done to a high standard."

But Mr Harrison assured residents and opponents that the company would continue to work with the community throughout the length of the project.

"There has been a lot of opposition to our developments, we like to think we work in liaison with local communities and we like to inform people.

"We like to think that we can carry out our work without causing an adverse effect on local communities."

Initial work will begin in May at the Shotton site, with excavations scheduled to begin in September/October.



Earth sculpture to rival Angel of the North

THE Angel of the North is as iconic as it is controversial – you either love it or you hate it.

But either way, you know about it.

And that is exactly what renowned artist Charles Jencks is hoping his giant landform will become.

The Shotton opencast will see the creation of the landscaped sculpture Northumberlandia by Mr Jencks that developers hope will become a tourist attraction to rival the Angel of the North.

Lying at the entrance to south east Northumberland, the green goddess will be up to 30m high and half a kilometre in length.

Northumberlandia will be the centrepiece for a 25-hectare public park in the urban fringe between the rolling countryside of mid Northumberland and the urban areas of south east Northumberland and Newcastle to the south.

This ambitious piece of public art will be made from some two million tonnes of soil and clay.

Looking to challenge some of the preconceptions about such mining activity, the Banks Group, which will operate the mine, and Blagdon Estate, which owns the land, have commissioned Mr Jencks to use the unique opportunity and resources made available by the mining operations to create the new landform.

A spokesman for Banks said: "Our vision is to establish a new landmark feature at the gateway to Northumberland which will be recognised as a piece of art in itself, and will also provide a focal point for a new public park for use by the local community and visitors to the area.

"The commissioning brief for Charles Jencks was to mark this natural gateway and the transition between the conurbation of Cramlington and the countryside of Northumberland with a new landscape.

"It will utilise and celebrate the machinery and skills of the mining industry, which has a long history in the region, whilst using the residual product of operations in a new and creative way.

"As well as being a piece of art to be admired, people can explore Northumberlandia using footpaths and cycleways, which will link with existing and new footpaths to provide a connection to Cramlington.

"The Shotton surface mine provides a unique opportunity to create a spectacular art form, which otherwise would not be constructed, whilst winning the much needed local coal for local industries.

"The art will also provide a marketing opportunity for the existing and planned industrial and residential development in Cramlington."