“This government tries to impose democracy abroad while abusing the democratic process in Britain. Democracy is only allowed to function if it favours the government agenda (eg. on-off general election, denied EU referendum, bills bulldozed through parliament, enquiries via Freedom of Information Act blocked, rigged planning procedures). The interests of the rich and powerful, especially big corporations, are Gordon Brown's top priority. The plebs count for nothing.

The government's "green" policy is an excuse to raise more taxes. If any drastic green action is taken, it will only be detrimental to the mass of people who have no power.

Having lived for many years near open-cast mining (now thankfully gone), I can vouch for the disgusting mess created by the dust. I wonder how many UK Coal bosses live near an open-cast coal mine?”

“Opencast mining has erased our local history, taking with it the landscape that defines our culture. The most valued areas of Shipley Park are the ones not opencast mined. Mapperley Reservoir is not the result of mining; in fact, effluent from the Whitehouse opencast site wrecked it in the early 1980s. Opencast companies lie about coal shortages. Yes, we have to import (from STABLE countries) because the pits were closed. UK Coal continues to close pits; opencast keeps its stockpiles full but the communities are wrecked, often becoming burnt-out drug dens. Then, the surrounding land is raped by opencast mining ¿ it¿s called ¿regeneration¿. At the Lodge House Public Inquiry, UK Coal made an argument for cheap, secure, opencast coal. Since being given permission, IT HAS PUT UP ITS PRICES TO MATCH IMPORTS. Its only interest is profit for directors and shareholders, then continuity of income from the land after mining. Wake up ¿ this won¿t be a few extra ponds and trees!”

“As a local resident, I will be sad to see the area destroyed by mining.
However, where will we be in a years time, when electricity prices have gone up +40%, more of our nuke plants are life expired, our gas supplies become more erratic, and France reduces electricity exports to us? In the dark probably.
Efforts to develop ¿green¿ electricity in the UK are also resisted; wind turbines are apparently noisy eyesores that decimate birds, the Severn Estuary tidal barrage has been lambasted, and I¿ll be amazed if a new nuke plant ever gets built.
So for the medium term, we don¿t seem to have much choice other than to utilise our indigenous fuel supplies.
Perhaps the focus of the Bell Lane protest should turn to ensuring that UK Coal commit to a significant improvement in the site remediation plans (more ponds, lakes, bridle ways, woods, meadows etc) once the work has been completed. After all Shipley Park and Mapperley Reservoir are the result of previous mining activities.”

“Coalfield areas suffered signficantly in the 2007 floods. A major contributory factor (well known) was the fact the "restored" opencast land does not drain; the water runs off. The previous opencast in this area decimated Mapperley Reservoir, and this will happen again. Ponds will silt up, the downstream watercourses will suffer, and the whole ecosystem risks collapse. As for opencast at Denby, the results are hardly a pretty site. Left alone, the old spoil heaps would have been better. Also remember this; UK Coal want another 500 acres of land for opencast around this site. UK Coal are even more property orientated than coal orientated. This land, once "restored" will be up for redevelopment despite the promises. This company has also already cut down "preserved" veteran trees on the site. Can't you see what is happening here? This protest is probably the last chance we have NOT to say goodbye to the last few green spaces we have. For pity's sake, support this fight.”

“large puddles is not flooding, unless the ice caps melt I don't think Heanor or Smalley will ever flood, OK maybe short sections of the road may puddle up because storm drains are blocked but that's hardly flooding. As much as I am against it, Heanor, Smalley and surrouding areas have been mined for centuries. An open cast mine between Smalley and Denby has recently been operating and has left little evidence of its existence. The country has got to get its power from somewhere.”

“No-one wanted this except UK Coal, and the government bulldozed it through for them. This government mouths concern about climate change, but when it comes to taking action are guaranteed to look after big business as usual. They've trampled on democracy, peaceful direct action is the only way we can regain a say in our common future. Hurrah for the protesters!”

“That's probably quite easy John as the Luftwaffe didn't extensively bomb Derbyshire.”

“Sorry, dont mean to rain on your parade (pardon the pun) but 2 years ago whilst driving through to Heanor where main rd continues onto heanor rd there was a cabbie knee deep in a puddle,we offered him a tow but he said he was ok.

The surrounding fields on our journey which was from Breadsall to Heanor were flooded.
The A608 was very hazardous and we informed an ambulance crew also who were unaware of the hazards as there was huge pockets of water across the roads for pretty much the length of our journey.”

“I used to live near Smalley and enjoyed the Shipley Park and the countryside. I have watched over the last couple of years how our so called planning system is abused by big companies and developers where the local people just have to suffer with consequences. There is massive change and disruption and no one has asked for it! No thought goes to people who are affected. Our planners have done more damage than the leufwaffe ever did as far as I am concerned. Good luck to them all as it is the only was you actually get noticed!”

“I think that they are all bloody fantastic!
It great to see people taking an active interest in local green issues, istead of sitting on their backsides and complaining!
I for one, will be wholeheartedly supporting every one of them!!!!”