The Coal Authority is a non-departmental public body which works to protect the public
and the environment in coal mining areas. Our statutory role in the planning system is to
provide advice about new development in the coalfield areas and also protect coal
resources from unnecessary sterilisation by encouraging their extraction, where practical,
prior to the permanent surface development commencing.
As you will be aware a small part of the Burton parish area lies within the current defined
coalfield. However, as this coalfield area is small, The Coal Authority has no specific
comments to make on the definition of the Neighbourhood Plan Area.
In the spirit of ensuring efficiency of resources and proportionality it will not be necessary
for the Burton Parish to provide The Coal Authority with any future drafts or updates to the
emerging Neighbourhood Plan. This letter can be used as evidence for the legal and
procedural consultation requirements.