IT would be fair to say that to secure energy in the future new methods of generating it need to be considered now.
But it may come as a surprise to some that coal mining may soon return to the town, as a coal mining plan for Clayton West has been lodged with Kirklees Council.
Of course, people will fear the immediate environmental impact, but perhaps it’s best to look at what’s being proposed with an open mind.
We need to source energy to run our homes and businesses from somewhere.
Green energies would be the best option, but with a return to coal mining being considered, perhaps green energies aren’t yet providing us with enough energy.
So alternatives need to be considered in the meantime and this option is one which is now fully open to scrutiny.
The Gordon Harrison Ltd plan will bring jobs to the area. Those behind it say they could extract 190,000 tonnes of coal and 40,000 tonnes of fireclay from land at Clayton West.
But there will be opposition and that will be based on the environmental impact the mining will have.
The planning application says it will take two years to excavate the site and six months to restore it to its original state.
There will be mixed views on the matter, but people should be allowed to have their say, ask questions and get answers.
Perhaps now is the time not only for a sensible discussion about mining, but also about other renewable energy sources.
