On 12 September, 40 climate activists occupied a new site in Happendon Wood, South Lanarkshire, Scotland to set up the Happendon Wood Action Camp (THWAC), to help defend the wood from destruction by Scottish Coal.
The Scottish Resources Group (SRG), which owns Scottish Coal, have applied for planning permission for a mixed-use development on this land (which is in an area of Great Landscape Value) in the Douglas Valley, but they intend to mine the area first.
It is said that Scottish Coal wouldn’t be allowed to build on the land without opencast mining it first, otherwise this would be “sterilising the nation’s asset” and therefore illegal.
Local resident and Douglas and Glespin community council chairperson Lindsay Addison charged: “We have serious concerns that this is an excuse for another opencast. We do not want this development, let alone another mine.”
Questions have been raised about the close relationship between Scottish Coal and South Lanarkshire council (SLC) – which is considering a planning permission application from SRG. SLC has begun proceedings against every member of the Douglas and Glespin community council over alleged libel claims.
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