MEBYON Kernow has condemned talks between Candy Atherton MP and the Coal Authority about the clean up of Cornish mine waste.

Speaking at a meeting of Mebyon Kernow's Falmouth and Camborne Constituency Party on Friday Coun Stuart Cullimore said: "As someone who has spent most of my working life in the mining industry, I am furious at Ms Atherton's talks.

"The type of material present in coal tips is radically different from Cornish metalliferous mines. The source material in coal mines is sedimentary, while in Cornish mines it is igneous or metamorphic in origin. The problems are different.

"It is an insult to the expertise that exists in Cornwall. There are individuals and companies in Cornwall that are more than able to deal with the problems - Camborne School of Mines and CSM Associates to name but two. Indeed, some years ago CSM went to Wales to advise on the clearance of coal tips, so to say we are ten years behind is a bad joke.

"In many cases I would also question the need to clear up many of the mine tips, which are a habitat for rare species of plants which only thrive in these environments.

"Furthermore, much damage has been done in the past to mine sites by such clear ups - an important point with World Heritage Status in the offing.

But Ms Atherton said somebody needed to be doing something to ensure polluted sites in Cornwall were cleaned up.

"For some weeks I have been having meetings with ministers, the Coal Authority and the Environment Agency," said Ms Atherton.

"Clean-up operations in Cornwall are lagging behind other parts of the country and this is partly a reflection of the fact that the ownership of the mines is lost in the mists of time, some are run by the local authority and some by the Environment Agency.

"Take the Red River. It is named that because of the pollution within it. In other parts of the country pollution such as this has been cleaned up years ago.

"It is worth pursuing, and we don't want Cornwall to fall behind and nor, do I think, would Mr Cullimore."