Arrests at Smalley coal mine protest
UK Coal revealed for the first time yesterday that members of environmental group Leave It In The Ground may have dug four tunnels directly underneath a derelict farmhouse.
The protesters have been occupying the building at Prospect Farm, in Bell Lane, Smalley, for almost two months in the hope of making it impossible for UK Coal to begin opencast mining at the 334-acre site this autumn.
Bailiffs from the National Eviction Team arrived yesterday, leading to the arrest of three protesters. Three more left voluntarily.
A spokesman for UK Coal said: "We believe up to eight people remain in the house, four of whom could be in a labyrinth of tunnels underneath the house, according to information we have.
"These people are not going to come out voluntarily, so the priority is to get them out safely without any injury to them or members of the eviction team.
"We're telling them what's happening and urging them to leave voluntarily but those that remain appear quite stubborn.
"We've got just over 20 experts from the National Eviction Team, who worked on the site until 6pm last night.
"Only when they get into the tunnels will they be able to do what needs to be done."
The bailiffs went to the site at 7.30am yesterday, nearly three weeks after UK Coal was granted permission by Derby County Court to evict the group.
As well as the arrests, the bailiffs removed several tree houses, built by the protesters close to the property.
The eviction of the remaining protestors is expected to take several days.
Chief Inspector Graham McLoughlin, who was responsible for the 24-hour policing of the site, said: "It's been fairly well-humoured and there's been good banter between the protesters and us. We've been making sure they get food and drink."
Andy Green, a spokesman for Leave It In The Ground, said: "We've built an extensive tunnel network and have tree-structures and suspended cargo nets.
"As bailiffs and police arrived on site, people were chained to barricades defending strategic parts of the property."
UK Coal has Government clearance to mine for four-and-a-half years from this autumn, despite Derbyshire County Council having refused to grant planning permission.
One of the protesters, who left voluntarily and identified himself only as Ben, said: "We need to find an alternative to coal and time for action is long overdue because climate change has already started happening."
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eco-warrior: A protester at Prospect Farm with police. Three people have been arrested, while a further three left the site voluntarily. People are protesting against UK Coal's plan to opencast the area
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