THE controversial development of Cutacre is being used as a warning to people across the UK who live near potential open cast mining sites.

A new report produced by a campaign group recounts the history of Cutacre, an opencast mine near Over Hulton, warning that other sites across the country may meet a similar fate.

The 48-page document, titled “UK Coal: An Alternative Report”, also examines UK Coal’s “rebranding as a property development company”.

The report was created by the Minorca Opencast Protest Group, a group of residents who are campaigning against a UK Coal planning application for a site in Leicestershire.

It reads: “Local communities are learning about the use UK Coal makes of the planning system in its attempts to convert the temporary use of the land which is allowed for mineral extraction purposes to its permanent use as land suitable for a range of developments.”

Residents failed in their attempts to stop open cast mining at Cutacre in 2001, but believed, due to planning conditions imposed, that it would be restored to a country park after mining operations finished.

Instead, Cutacre was identified by Bolton Council as a potential development site, and is due to be turned into a 209-acre industrial estate.

The MOPG report’s author, Steve Leary, who lives next to a proposed UK Coal development site, said: “We are learning from the lesson of Cutacre, and we want to pass on this knowledge to any further groups who may want to oppose this company.

“So far each one of us has had to oppose them in isolation — we should have a collective memory in the same way the company does.”

UK Coal owns 43,000 acres of land across the UK, and currently has 80 projects at various stages of development.

Those projects, according to UK Coal spokesman Stuart Oliver, could result in the building of 32,000 homes and more than 30 million square feet of business space.

Mr Oliver condemned the MOPG report, calling it a “hotch-potch of half-truths, lies and make-believe”, although he was unable to pinpoint any specific inaccuracies.

He said: “Most of our sites are returned to green field, and in the case of one site in Durham, it’s now the home to the Durham Wildlife Trust, “ he said.

“We’re proud of what we’re doing and we’re proud of the legacy from Cutacre, which will be much better than the industrial dereliction we inherited.”