The document referes to opencast restraint areas. Whilst the document also says that it is not for DCC to suggest areas can it give any long term intentions and advise of any areas that would be ruled out completely?

MPG3 advises that areas where coal working is unlikely to be acceptable should be indicated in the development plan. This is not necessarily a requirement to illustrate such areas through a designation or constraint area on a plan. A criterion based policy for coal or for the wider protection of environmental and cultural assets from mineral extraction can satisfactorily address the issues. Consequently The Coal Authority considers that the definition of surface mining constraint areas are no lo