For 7 years, one local community fought plans to establish an opencast coal mine in Druridge Bay, on the Northumberland coast.
Had it been given the go-ahead, millions of tonnes of coal would have been extracted and burned, spelling disaster for the climate and the local community. Thankfully, residents and campaigners were rewarded for their hard work in October 2020 with news that the mine wouldn't be going ahead.
Read on to discover how the case unfolded and hear from the community that fought the coal industry and won.
![Druridge Bay view from above](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/Druridge-Bay-crop.jpg?itok=8qKsa53N)
Where is Druridge Bay?
![Druridge Bay view from above](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/Druridge-Bay-crop.jpg?itok=8qKsa53N)
I was shocked and angry that an opencast coal mine could even be considered in such a beautiful area.
Duncan Lawrence, local cafe owner and member of the Save Druridge campaign group.
![Quarry lorries move materials around the Ffos-Y-Fran opencast coal mine on November 17, 2009 in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/opencast%20coal%20mine.jpg?itok=FLv4hP_t)
Banks Mining proposes a coal mine
![Quarry lorries move materials around the Ffos-Y-Fran opencast coal mine on November 17, 2009 in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/opencast%20coal%20mine.jpg?itok=FLv4hP_t)
I think people feel disbelief. How can you put something which scars the land so badly on such a beautiful place?
Stephen, local resident
![A yellowhammer bird perching on the branch of a tree](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/yellowhammer.jpg?itok=oNLMPLtN)
Rare wildlife
![A yellowhammer bird perching on the branch of a tree](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/yellowhammer.jpg?itok=oNLMPLtN)
![Diggers and other heavy vehicles at Shotton opencast coal mine in Northumberland](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/shotton-coal-mine.jpg?itok=fZsodehV)
County council approves coal mine
![Diggers and other heavy vehicles at Shotton opencast coal mine in Northumberland](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/shotton-coal-mine.jpg?itok=fZsodehV)
![Campaigners from Save Druridge](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/FB_IMG_1526382916881_1.jpg?itok=nt5qn9pu)
Locals strike back with our help
![Campaigners from Save Druridge](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/FB_IMG_1526382916881_1.jpg?itok=nt5qn9pu)
Slightly stunned but very happy
"I was walking my dogs on the beach when my mobile rang. It was our local paper asking if I'd heard. We weren't expecting Sajid Javid to tweet the news.
"I became involved when I got the brochures through the door from Banks Mining stating they were to mine 7m tonnes of coal at Druridge Bay.
"I searched Druridge and found the Save Druridge group whom I contacted suggesting ideas. I was invited down to a meeting.
"Since that first meeting back in the summer of 2013 I have been heavily involved holding events and running the Facebook sites. It's been almost 6 years for me. I was initially looking for work but Save Druridge has taken over.
"Keep up the fight for our planet and its environment as each and everyone of us do make a difference."
Lynne Tate, local resident and member of Save Druridge
![photo of Druridge Bay with dunes and grasses in foreground](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/iStock-532788675sml.jpg?itok=YVb5ZyBA)
Banks Mining challenges the refusal
![photo of Druridge Bay with dunes and grasses in foreground](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/iStock-532788675sml.jpg?itok=YVb5ZyBA)
![Duncan Lawrence from Save Druridge](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/DSC_7466_1.jpg?itok=-aNESXWp)
It was a kick in the teeth but we're still fighting
![Duncan Lawrence from Save Druridge](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/DSC_7466_1.jpg?itok=-aNESXWp)