FALMOUTH and Camborne MP Candy Atherton secured a high-level ministerial meeting to discuss the clean up of pollution from Cornwall's old tin mines.

Elliot Morley MP, Minister for the Environment, met Ms Atherton and representatives from the Coal Authority and the Environment Agency following an amendment put forward by the Cornish MP to the Government's Water Bill.

"After talks with the Coal Authority and the Environment Agency, it became clear that Cornwall is about ten years behind the coal fields in our strategy to deal with toxic effluence leaching from tin mines," said Ms Atherton. My suggested change to the Bill recognised that the Coal Authority has a wealth of expertise in dealing with this sort of pollution, and the problems of former tin mines are very similar to those of coal. It would, therefore, be sensible that the Coal Authority should take on responsibility for tin mine clean up as well."

She added: "There is a lot to sort out and financial implications for the Government must be taken into account, but the Minister has decided to hold a joint meeting with the Department for Trade and Industry to look into the issue further. This is a very important first step."

Ms Atherton was involved in talks with the Coal Authority and the Environment Agency for several months before securing the meeting.

The Environment Agency has been responsible for dealing with pollution from Wheal Jane mine since its dramatic discharge of toxic waste in 1992.

The ongoing clean-up operation is financed by a Government grant.

"The Environment Agency had to deal with Wheal Jane as an emergency and they have done well," said the MP.

"However, I believe it would be better to use the Coal Authority's approach, identifying potential hazards and using preventive measures to deal with problems before they become serious.