The Duke of Rutland can be a right old pain in the proverbial. He owns Belvior castle which is a few miles west of Grantham and situated (As you might expect) in the "Vale of Belvior". When it was discovered that there were vast Coal reserves under the vale , he pretty much led the opposition to mining IN the vale which led to the situation whereby a coal mine was established at Asfordby (Near Melton Mowbray) with the idea of bringing coal out from a distance. This operated quite successfully for a couple of years as the coal seam extended that far, then mining ceased due to a "Geological Fault". The pit was closed, many million pounds worth of investment went down the drain, a lot of jobs were lost and Britain now imports coal from all over. Due in the main to a titled NIMBY. The coal reserves are still there.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Anger+...wn.-a061068589
Regards, 62440.