A road will have to be closed for Telford and Wrekin Council staff to remove anti-mine slogans from a highway bridge.
Vandals have been condemned for spraying a ‘no to Wrekin mine’ slogan on one of Telford’s highway bridges on the A442 near to Stirchley.
Pat Judson, a former member of the disbanded Friends Of The Ercall group, said he didn’t know who had drawn the slogan and condemned the actions.
He said: “They had the opportunity to speak at the inquiry and I am very sad that they had to do criminal damage to people’s property.
“It costs money to get graffiti off there - money from our taxes.”
Councillor Steve Bentley, cabinet member for environment, said: “We are aware of this graffiti and plan to remove it as soon as possible.
“Because of the location though, there are health and safety implications for our cortractors and in order to work safely it is likely we will need to put in place a lane or road closure.
“This is best achieved as part of our continuing environmental maintenance programme. We are due to carry out some tree works prior to Christmas and it makes sense to use this as an opportunity to remove the graffiti as well.”
Last month the government allowed, with conditions, a proposed opencast mine for 900,000 tonnes of coal at Huntington Lane, Telford, following a public inquiry earlier this year.
UK Coal applied to mine coal, between New Works and Little Wenlock, claiming it will create 92 jobs and provide fuel for Ironbridge Power Station.
The proposals were the subject of a six-week public inquiry which saw opposition from campaign groups, nearby residents and Telford & Wrekin Council.