Ledston Opencast Proposal
HJ Banks and the Ledston Estate propose to opencast coal and minerals from 137 hectares of land east of the village of Ledston, adjacent to the acclaimed RSPB Nature Reserve at Fairburn and Newton. The site is within the ‘green belt’ area of Leeds City Council and designated as a Special Landscape Area. It attracts up to 100,000 visitors a year. The residents of the villages directly affected, along with visitors to the area, are strongly opposed to the proposal.

Read responses to the planning application submission

Did you know?
The proposed open cast site covers 137 hectares near Ledston adjacent to the RSPB Nature Reserve at Fairburn Ings.

The Ings at Fairburn, Ledsham and Newton are designated SSSI and SEGI sites of special scientific, ecological and geological interest overseen by Natural England (English Nature).

The RSPB Nature Reserve attracts 100,00 visitors a year to Fairburn, many of whom are school children, there as part of their education as advised by governmental policy.

The water quality and levels in the Ings are crucial to the well being of the wildlife. The proposal will cut through the water bearing strata, which feeds the Ings, and remove the limestone which acts as a natural filter.

When a similar site was dug at St. Aidans it drained Mickletown Ings SSSI on the opposite side of the River Aire.

HJ Banks plan to opencast around 1.2 million tonnes of coal, limestone and other minerals over a 5 year period.

1 million tonnes of coal will be consumed in just 14 days by Drax, Ferrybridge and Eggborough power stations working at full capacity, producing 3.6 million tonnes of greenhouse gases.

Open cast mining creates dust and noise, the impact of which will be greatest within 1kilometre of the workings. This includes the villages of Ledston, Ledsham, Fairburn and Newton.

The Leeds City Council Unitary Development Plan identifies Ledston and Ledsham as a Special Landscape Area. The storage of over burden (muck stacks) would have a major impact on this landscape.

All the elected Parish Councils of the 3 villages and the adjacent villages, are strongly opposed to the proposal. Over 1000 residents and visitors have registered their concerns to the proposals as have the RSPB and Natural England (English Nature).

About Fairburn Ings
Only a few miles from the centre of Leeds and yet offering a true countryside experience, Fairburn Ings is a wildlife haven in the heart of the Aire valley.

The lakes and marshes are a legacy of the mining industry, of which virtually all traces are now gone, and nature has reclaimed the landscape, encouraged by RSPB management.

From the visitor centre, which is open all year round, there are short family walks or longer excursions, observation hides and boardwalks, all designed to get you closer to wildlife.

There is something to see at any season – flocks of ducks in Winter, including the rare smew, migrating birds in Spring and Autumn and a multitude of nesting warblers and waders.

An extensive series of events and guided walks caters for all, from keen birdwatchers to families. A specially constructed, elevated boardwalk projects out into the main lake allowing all ages a chance to see the birds on the lake at close hand.