A song, a petition, and a walk to save Druridge
The Save Druridge campaigners held a walk from Cresswell bus stop to Druridge Farm starting at 11am on 3 May. For more info and a link to their petition, see www.savedruridge.co.uk or email savedruridge@btinternet.com
More than 50 people of all ages (and a good few dogs) took part as extras in a new pop video for Amble singer songwriter, Brian English.
Garage worker Brian has penned a song about Druridge Bay on behalf of the Save Druridge group and put out a call for volunteers, who care about opposing opencast in the area, to join as extras.
“The turn out was fantastic, locals have really got behind me to star in the video but also express their concerns about an opencast site so near to the bay itself,” said Brian.
The proposed scheme will see mining operations taking place for around eight to ten years with a further five years’ restoration period. It is anticipated that approximately five million tonnes will be mined in an area very close to Widdrington Village, Widdrington Station, Cresswell and Druridge Bay itself.
Chairman of the Save Druridge campaign, John Smillie was delighted with the support received. “For 50 people to come out on such a cold, windy and rainy day shows the level of support we have. People have had too much opencast over the years and now it’s time we said enough is enough. We’re looking forward to making the video our battle cry as we continue to oppose the development.”
The ex-drummer of Geordie legend Lindisfarne has also hit out at plans for the opencast mine. Ray Laidlaw gave his backing to the Save Druridge campaign by signing the petition to stop the proposed scheme.
The song “Druridge” has already generated more than 1800 hits on Brian’s Facebook page and local photographer Andrew Bryson recorded the professional video of the song.
See the video: youtu.be/qzRKa_EcFXc
Save our druridge bay dunes&beach from rapine