THE Heritage Railway Association (HRA) has described a Government decision to refuse permission for the creation of a new coal mine in Northumberland as"massively disappointing" and a "hammer blow to UK heritage rail''.
The HRA announcement came after Robert Jen rick MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, refused the Banks Group's planning application for its proposed new Highthorn surface mine on September 8.
The decision brings to an end a planning battle which began almost five years ago.