AROUND 60 villagers attended a public meeting to voice their anger at plans to dig opencast mines on greenbelt land.

Councillors and residents spoke out against plans to mine two areas near Pittington, east of Durham City, at a meeting held in neighbouring West Rainton on Tuesday night.

During a 90-minute debate, people voiced concerns over the environment, traffic, noise, dirt and disruption.

Afterwards, Steve Percival, vice chairman of West Rainton and Leamside Parish Council, said: "There were very clear concerns about these proposals.

"We have real concerns about the environmental impact of the plans. We’re very proud as a parish council to be in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust to reduce the carbon footprint of the parish.

"Also, the A690 couldn’t take the extra traffic - there would be lorries day and night down to Yorkshire."

ATH Resources has shown an interest in extracting 3.3 million tonnes of coal from the two sites and wants Durham County Council to declare them as being of strategic importance.

However, the firm has said it has no immediate plans to progress any projects in County Durham and council bosses do not currently consider the sites to be strategic.

Councillor Percival said: "We were happy to hear that ATH Resources have slowed down their approach in that they don’t foresee lodging any planning application any time soon."

However, another mining firm is also showing interest, he added.

Residents are invited to make their views known at a meeting of Sherburn Parish Council, to be held in the village’s workingmen’s club on Tuesday, February 8, at 6pm.

Durham County Council’s consultation on its minerals and waste sites policy closes on Monday, February 14. To comment, email: ldfconsultation@durham.gov.uk