Latest News

Mining World Heritage Site - 13 July 2006

Mining areas in Cornwall and Devon have been recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The BBC website reports on this.

The Future For Coal - 12 July 2006

The possibilities of coal making a comeback is discussed on the BBC website.

Durham Miners' Gala - 7 July 2006

The 122nd Durham Miners' Gala, which takes place on Saturday 8 July, is previewed by the BBC website.

Scottish Quarry To Reopen - 5 July 2006

Approval has been given for the reopening of Soutra Hill Quarry south of Jedburgh, near the Scottish-English border. The BBC website reports that Scottish Borders Council said yes to the plan, despite opposition from neighbouring Midlothian Council.

No To Northumberland Nude - 5 July 2006

Plans for an opencast mine which would have featured a giant sculpture of a naked woman have been turned down. The Durham-based Banks Group hoped to mine coal from the Blagdon Estate near Cramlington in Northumberland, but the county council refused planning permission. The BBC website has more details, including an artists impression of how the landscaped sculpture might have looked.

Crumbling Chalk Problems - 4 July 2006

Former chalk mines are causing problems for residents in Reading, according to the BBC website. Despite previous attempts to stop subsidence, and funding from the Land Stabilisation Programme, the county council has to look at further options to stop this continuing problem. The mines are a legacy of the brick, tile and chalk industries in the area.

China Clay Job Losses In South West - 4 July 2006

Up to 800 jobs could go in Devon and Cornwall as a china clay company reorganises itself. Imerys, which took over English China Clays in 1999, blames strong competition and other factors. The company announced in a press release "a reorganization of its UK kaolin business to ensure the future of its operations in the southwest of England".

Imerys will stop manufacturing paper coating grades in Cornwall in 2007 and focus on paper filler kaolin production. Its kaolin operations in Devon will close and the firm will "consolidate its UK kaolin for ceramics and for performance minerals base in Cornwall". Imerys plans to co-operate with local government and other agencies to lessen the impact on the local economy, which has relied on the china clay industry since the 1740s. For press reaction go to the BBC website for details on the possible job cuts, reaction to the news, plans for a task force, and job cuts at Par Docks. The Guardian newspaper also reported on the story and mentioned a rise in power costs as one factor behind the decision.

Longer Opening Hours For Quarries - 2 July 2006

Leicestershire County Council will discuss plans in the next few weeks to extend the operating times of five quarries in the county, to meet the demand for aggregates. The quarries are at Brooksby, Cadeby, Husbands Bosworth, Lockington and Shawell. Lafarge, which runs Shawell quarry near Lutterworth, is exhibiting plans for locals as it wants to extend land fill operations there.

Mining Photographs

Almost 40,000 photogaphs of British mining (the NCB and British Coal Collection) have been digitised and are now available at the Coal Authority Library at Mansfield.

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April to June 2006 news.

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