Consultation to update minerals plan

Thursday 15 April 2010

A full public consultation exercise got underway today as part of the council's preparation of a new Minerals Local Development Plan (MLDP).

A Main Issues Report (MIR) is now available for everyone to view and comment upon, the feedback from which will help form the basis of the proposed plan later in the year.

Following a further period of consultation, a possible public inquiry and the seeking of committee approval, it is hoped the new MLDP will be adopted by Summer 2011.

Members of the council's Planning Committee, who gave the go-ahead for the public consultation exercise to be carried out, were also given the opportunity to study the MIR which was compiled based on recent consultations with affected communities, minerals industry operators and key consultees.

The report addresses key concerns and views of all of these parties, along with the council's 'preferred option' of how to deal with each of these main issues in the final development plan.

These include areas such as identifying the preferred 'spatial' strategy for mineral extraction safeguarding mineral resources, minimising effects on people and communities, protecting the environment and ensuring excellence in working practices and restoration.

Following recent changes to planning legislation, the new MLDP is being prepared as a replacement for the current Minerals Local Plan which was adopted in 2002.

The MIR is the first published document in the preparation of the new Minerals Local Development Plan and is intended to be a focus for consultation and engagement before the proposed final plan is prepared.

The council is grateful to the communities surrounding Strathaven, Douglas and Symington who have already been involved in the process, along with industry operators and other key consultees as it is well aware of the impacts that mineral extraction can have on local communities both positive and negative.

On the positive side, creation of jobs and the boost to the local economy is of paramount importance particularly when the mineral to be extracted has a high value and is sought after in national or global markets.

Conversely mineral extraction can be controversial particularly when communities are concerned about the impacts of extraction on their quality of life.

You can view the Main Issues Report and fill in an online feedback form by going to the Minerals local development plan page.

Hard copies of the report can be inspected at local libraries, Q and A offices and Planning and Building Standards offices. The consultation period will end on Friday May 28.