A county Durham Mining and development firm has called for changes in the planning regulations on coal mining, so it can invest more in renewable energy.

The family owned Banks Group has called on the Government to remove the presumption against coal mining which presently exists, as it reviews planning regulations. The Durham City based firm, which runs surface mines across northern England and Scotland, also has an expanding renewable energy division which has secured a number of multi million pound onshore wind farm projects.

Mr Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at the Banks Group, employing 400, said it was partly through its coal mining operations that it was able to afford to invest in renewable energy research. The firm put its concerns to planning minister Mr Bob Neill, who visited one of its mines in Northumberland, and called for the presumption against coal mining to be removed.

Mr Dowdall said that "The money that comes from coal helps to support our investment in renewable technologies. In planning policy brought in by the Labour government in the 1990s there has been a presumption against coal mining and although we have lived with it the Government are now consulting on changing the planning framework. We are moving towards a low carbon economy, but that does not mean we presently don't need coal and the UK imports about 70% of the coal it uses."

Mr Dowdall added that "The mining industry continues to be a major contributor to the North East economy. Our North-East surface mines currently employ well over 200 people on site, as well as supporting other off site roles within our organization, and we estimate that they contribute more than GBP 20 million each year to the regional economy."

Mr Dowdall said that modern surface mines differed from their traditional image, with measures put in place to minimize environmental impact. During his visit Mr Neill met representatives of local communities which have benefited from the mines, principally through employment opportunities, and also saw former mining sites that have been restored and landscaped by Banks. In Northumberland the firm has invested GBP 2.5 million in a public park, which will include the Northumberland goddess sculpture, formed from 1.5 million tonnes of soil and clay taken from its nearby surface mine.

Mr Dowdall also welcomed the overall plan to simplify the UK's burden some planning system, which he believed impacted on development that could help bring about economic growth. He said that "If I was advising a company from outside the UK to come to Britain one of the big things that would put me off is the planning system. It is cumbersome and puts massive investment at risk. As a responsible business we are not looking for a dilution of environmental standards, but we are saying the system at the moment is flawed."

(Sourced from www.thenorthernecho.co.uk)