I AM somewhat disturbed at the way in which the East Ayrshire Council is destroying Muirkirk by granting licences for opencast mining. Already four licences have been issued, three for coal extraction and one for sand and gravel extraction, with more being contemplated.

The villagers are now correctly and openly complaining about the dictatorial attitude of the council in granting the licences. Last year they blamed it on the Conservative Government. Who can they now blame?

There is evidence of cracking on the walls of houses, contamination of the rivers, which contain salmon and trout, the people being subjected to noises from the blasting and the heavy throughput of lorries breaking up the streets.

There is grave doubt as to whether the companies are adhering to the 1993 European health and safety regulations and as to whether the council is turning a blind eye to this fact. Is there any neutral check made on the decibels of blasting and is the air being continually monitored for dust pollution?

How can the leader of the council, Mr David Sneller, be allowed to continue both as leader of the Labour Party and leader of the council along with being a coal consultant? Surely a conflict of loyalties when the most contentious item in the district is opencast mining.

Mr Sneller takes no part in the discussions or in voting, but he has very many supporters in the council. In an area of high unemployment and in accordance with true Socialist doctrine, surely he cannot hold two well-paid jobs?

The jobs available are an asset to the village and the monies per ton supposedly given to the mineral fund are an excellent incentive to keep quiet. It is just unfortunate that after one year of operation the monies have still to be seen and by all reports only a small percentage may be returned to the village, the rest being split between the council for its own projects and other communities, which are objecting to the lorries passing through their area.

One of the opencasts is within metres of a housing scheme and the recent licence given is opposite the same scheme and both are in areas that provided excellent walks.

In large opencast countries like Australia, Canada, and America, the opencasts are all environmentally friendly and provide a lot of amenities for the nearest town and village and are situated at least four kilometres from the nearest housing estate.

Jim Currie,

Apt 118/397/8/9,

PST Condoville,

Nonsi Road, Chongnonsi,

Yannawa, Bangkok.

August 4.