Halton Lea Gate
| Halton Lea Gate | |
| Northumberland | |
|---|---|
 Halton Lea Gate from the A689 | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NY651587 |
| Location: | 54°55’20"N, 2°32’45"W |
| Data | |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Northumberland |
Halton Lea Gate is a small Northumberland village, situated on the A689 road, just yards from the border of Northumberland with Cumberland.
The A689 road leads on to Brampton, and has just a brief loop into Northumberland's south-westernmost corner here, between County Durham and Cumberland with few junctions, and all with local lanes.
Halton Lea Gate is at the edge of the Cheviot Hills (bordering the North Pennines 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'. Halton Lea Farm has a Grade II listed farmhouse, the eastern end of which probably represents a large bastle house.[1]
Just to the east of the village runs the Pennine Way long distance footpath.
The population of Halton Lea Gate was 310 in 1901.[2]
The area was subject to extensive coal mining activity in the nineteenth century, with a later phase of mining being undertaken from the 1930s to 1958.[3]
Coal mining controversy
Halton Lea has featured in the national news on account of plans to develop open cast coal mining adjacent to the village. A plan submitted in 2008 led to speculation in the local media that property values would drop by 40% as a result.[4] The plan submitted by HM Project Developments Ltd in November 2010 was to extract approximately 140,000 tons of coal; with the nearest housing to the mining extraction being just 60 yards away. [5]
In 2012 a planning application was refused but granted on appeal subject to conditions. A legal challenge by residents was rejected by the High Court. Extraction of coal began in 2016.
The success of the application to open cast coal mine at Halton Lea Gate has opened up the possibility of further mining applications in places like Lambley, Northumberland and Coanwood, where applications have previously been refused.
References
- ↑ National Heritage List 1303426: Halton Lea Farmhouse
- ↑ [http://www.john-t-watson.freeserve.co.uk/haltwhistle/tosouth/haltonlea/haltonleagatetext.htm Family history of John Watson of Haltwhistle.
- ↑ Wardell Armstrong Planning Application for HM Project Developments Ltd November 2010 site description page 2.7
- ↑ see Cumberland News 12.12.2008 http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk/news/planned_open_cast_mine_may_lead_to_40_per_cent_house_price_fall_1_284038?referrerPath=home/cn_search_results_2_3080
- ↑ Northumberland County Council Planning application reference C/10/00267/CCMEIA dated 29 November 2010.
