Druridge Bay opencast plan: Claim of impact on caravan business

The owner of a family-run caravan park near the site of a proposed opencast coal mine is claiming his business has been badly hit before the plans are even considered by councillors.

Ellington Caravan Park is close to the boundary of the planned Highthorn mine near Druridge Bay in Northumberland which will be considered in June.

Its owner Neil Fairclough says sales of caravans have plummeted 60% since the proposals for the mine were first revealed.

But Jeannie Kielty from Banks Mining rejects the claims maintaining that tourism in the area will thrive as a result of the new investment