When the Vale Said No

Rural Backwater Roused for Battle

In the late 1970s the National Coal Board applied to South Kesteven, Melton and Rushcliffe councils for planning permission to mine in the Vale. There was heated debate locally and nationally. Many of the people of the Vale united to fight the proposal. A public enquiry recommended that planning permission should be granted, but the Secretary of State  finally rejected the plans, saying that 'mine buildings on the scale proposed would dominate a wide area and would be alien to the Vale' which was described as 'land of a character normally associated with a national park'. (1)

Were you involved?

We would like to hear your  memories of the debate and the campaign.

(1) Hansard - Vale-of-Belvoir