Thank you for the email of the 3 May 2013 consulting The Coal Authority on the above. 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. The two parishes of Stoneleigh and Ashow are located outside of the currently defined coalfield and accordingly 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 Stoneleigh and Ashow Parish Council 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.