A CAMPAIGN has been started to block the creation of a green energy plant on the site of a former mine.

UK Coal and Science City York want to use North Selby mine, near Escrick, to produce electricity from an anaerobic digestor, incinerator and gasification plant.

But campaigners say UK Coal is trying to renege on a deal agreed in the 1970s that once coal mining had finished at the site, the land would be returned to agricultural use. This was a condition of the original planning permission.

Tim Williams, of Deighton, is helping run the campaign against the proposals and wants City of York Council to enforce the original planning condition.

He said: “From our perspective, it’s a pretty clear case of us wanting to ensure City of York Council meet their obligations as Selby District Council has done with regard to Wistow and Stillingfleet. The council should commence enforcement proceedings against UK Coal to return the site to agricultural use as promised.”

Mr Williams said there were also concerns about the energy production plant itself, particularly with regard to air quality and increased traffic on the A19.

County councillor Elizabeth Casling said: “For me, the biggest concern is about the traffic and for the future use of the land as this will only use a small part of the 65-acre site and once they have got their foot in the door anything could go on there.

“We need to fight this from the very start.”

A spokesman for UK Coal said the world had changed since the original planning condition was imposed and there was a need for sites like this one.

He said: “What we have here are buildings of relatively new construction, of good quality and discreet that could be utilised for job creating activities which in the current climate is never more appropriate.”

The spokesman said that in the 1970s there were concerns about food production which was why the condition was imposed but those concerns have since evaporated.

He added that existing industrial developments on greenfield sites are in high demand and retaining this one would mean land elsewhere would not have to be used.

Mike Slater, assistant director of city strategy at City of York Council said: “This site is effectively a ‘brownfield site’ in a rural area where there has been significant investment in infrastructure.

“The land owner has been in discussion with council officers for sometime to consider possible land uses, which make use of the investment, and which may be acceptable as an alternative to restoring the land to agricultural use.

“The option is still available for the council to take enforcement action if a suitable alternative use is not found.”