North York Moors potash mine rejection urged by campaign groups

The mine would be built on land near Whitby

Almost 30 environmental and leisure organisations have urged the rejection of plans for a £1.7bn potash mine in the North York Moors national park.

Developer Sirius Minerals wants to mine near Whitby and build a 23-mile (37km) tunnel to a Teeside processing plant.

However, the groups said the proposal was "a huge threat" to the area with potential for "substantial" damage.

The North York Moors National Park Authority (NPA) is due to consider the application on 30 June.

'Preserve integrity'

On Tuesday it was sent the open letter which had been signed by 29 groups including the RSPB, Caravan Club and the Campaign for National Parks (CNP).

CNP chief executive, Fiona Howie, said: "It is vital that authority members reject this proposal to preserve the principle and integrity of National Parks both in the North York Moors and across the country."

In a NPA report into the application, officers concluded the economic benefits of the mine did not outweigh the harm it would cause the national park.

Sirius Minerals has previously said it believed the application stood up to scrutiny and the mine was in the public interest, with environmental effects "mitigated".

Ryedale District Council and Scarborough Borough Council have both expressed strong support for the development.

North Yorkshire County Council has also asked the park authority to take "full account" of the potential benefits to the local, sub-regional and national economy.