Thank you for the notification consulting The Coal Authority on the above Neighbourhood Plan area designation.

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 the proposed Neighbourhood Plan area is outside of the defined surface coalfield and therefore The Coal Authority has no specific comments to make on the Neighbourhood Plan.

In the spirit of ensuring efficiency of resources and proportionality it will not be necessary for you 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.

The Coal Authority wishes the Town Council every success with the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan.