Gate to the future unlocked

This is the lock on a gate which has been closed for a number of years. It leads into the former site of a large open cast coal mine which was shut down many years ago. The land was waterlogged and needed pumping for a long time. Then some 15 or so years ago a proposal was made to build a new township on the site. Those of us who lived nearby were opposed to the plan however ( as always) the developers have won and the gate now unlocked and the  land being prepared. I learned last year ( to my horror I must say ) that land developers in these situations almost never even start to build amenities such as new schools, medical centres, recreational places until 500 houses are sold! Not built but actually sold by which time the strain on existing services including rail network and roads is unmanageable. Sorry for the rant .