In reply to monks:
Spotted you stil hadn't had a reply Al. The 1952 permission, and I paraphrase, talks about "The winning of Fluorspar and byrites and any minerals that are gained in the process." The methods being used by MMC are not those usually associated with Fluorspar, ie, vein mining. That usually entails following the vein by digging a narrow trench that is back-filled. Backdale, as you can see on the Save Longstone Edge website, is an enormous hole in the ground. MMC are effectively using their permission to mine fluorspar as a cover to extract limestone. Questions that need answering:
1. Not one ounce of Fluorspar has been processed in all the time they've been quarrying. How does that tally with the permission?
2. Is limestone a mineral?
3. Why haven't MMC paid any aggregate tax?
4. The H & S Executive are known to be interested in the operations. Why haven't they stepped in?
5. And most important of all, why is the govt standing by and allowing the destruction of one of the last examples of limestone moor in the Peak?
By the way, much as I'd love to, I don't think we can blame fatty Pres. This one is down to a combination of poor drafting of the original enforcement notice and the judiciary once again siding with big business against the environment.
Cheers
JH