A CONTROVERSIAL plan to resume open cast mining near Clayton West will be decided by Kirklees councillors this week.

Gordon Harrison Ltd wants to extract 190,000 tonnes of coal and 40,000 tonnes of fireclay from land between the village and Bretton Hall Park.

The company says the plan, close to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, will create 12 full-time jobs and claims there will be little disruption to local people.

It says on completion of mining the land will be restored to its former state.

But the plan has drawn a host of objections, including from English Heritage, Wakefield Council, Skelmanthorpe Action Group and West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service, who say there is the potential for late prehistoric/Roman and medieval period remains on the site.

The proposal will be considered by councillors on the Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee at Dewsbury Town Hall on Thursday.

Planning officers have recommended the scheme is refused.

They say it will be detrimental to the Green Belt and would damage the amenity of local walkers.