COUNTY council chiefs insist they are keeping a close eye on a site at Halton Lea Gate which is being prepared for opencast mining.

Preliminary work is finally under way at the remote site, more than three years after the controversial scheme, to extract 140,000 tonnes of coal, was given the go ahead by the Government’s planning inspectorate.

But residents have raised concerns about access to the site, and fear coal extraction has already started, before almost 100 pre-commencement conditions have been satisfied.

In addition, the Tyne Rivers Trust has called for reassurances over environment and wildlife protection.

Paul Atkinson, river projects manager for the Tyne Rivers Trust, is keen to ensure that the nearby Hartley Burn, a tributary of the Tyne, does not become contaminated.

He said: “Our main concern is if soil or silt were to get into the water course, it could have an enormous impact on what is a significant salmon spawning river.

“We have been engaging with the county council and have expressed our concerns.

“We want to ensure that the scheme has adequate fail safe procedures to prevent pollution incidents. It’s a high risk site.”

Mr Atkinson also wants assurances over the effectiveness of two lagoons which are proposed as part of the scheme, in an area which has been prone to flooding in the past.

Meanwhile, residents have raised concerns after part of a hedge to the west of the site was removed.

One resident said: “There has been activity at the site, and part of a hedge has been removed to provide access.

“It looks as though there has been some digging, and it makes you wonder if the opencast work has already started, even though it’s still in the pre-commencement stage.”

The opencast scheme, orchestrated by HM Project Developments, was originally opposed by Northumberland County Council.

However, it was given the go-ahead by a Government-appointed inspector in July 2012, following a public inquiry, despite widespread opposition.

No fewer than 44 stringent pre-commencement conditions were placed on the project, which were later more than doubled, to 92.

No coal can be extracted until all of the conditions, which relate to access, noise and pollution have been satisfied.

This week, the county council said it was closely monitoring work at the site, while HM Project Developments has successfully discharged all but one of the pre-commencement conditions.

A county council spokesman said: “The outstanding condition relates to the design of the settlement lagoons and the council is liaising with the Environment Agency and the applicant to secure an acceptable design.

“We are aware that there has been some activity on site including the removal of trees and the erection of fencing.

“Neither of these activities constitutes commencement of development.

“Planning staff have visited the site and met with the operator and their agents on several occasions to ensure that activity on site has not progressed to commencement of development.

“We are aware that part of a hedge to the west of the site has been removed and the council is currently investigating this matter.

“Planning staff are in regular contact with a number of the local residents to keep them updated with the position that the council is taking with the site.”

At the time fo going to press, representatives of HM Project Developments were not available for comment.