Possible pit expansion near Snaith
POTENTIAL plans to expand Kellingley pit to land near the villages of Hensall, Pollington and Gowdall could preserve the jobs of hundreds of mine workers.
A feasibility study is being undertaken by UK Coal to explore the possibilities of extending the colliery to reach up to two million tonnes of known coal reserves.
UK Coal stressed that they are a ‘long way off a planning application’ but they have undertaken seismic surveys in the Hensall area as part of an ‘ongoing operation’.
Goole MP Andrew Percy and East Riding and Snaith town councillor John Barrett met with three representatives of UK Coal last Friday to discuss the plans.
Mr Percy said: “We were especially concerned to see where exactly the proposed extension area was and to ensure that it does not go under any of our local communities.
“UK Coal explained that the extension area is centred on the boundary with Selby district and would not extend under any of our communities.
“The extension of their mining activities would extend the life of their pit and secure the hundreds of jobs at the pit for longer.”
A UK Coal spokesman said: “A shallow seismic survey was carried out at Christmas to look at the feasibility of extending current mining operations.
“This is purely a feasibility study and plans and feasibility studies are two different things. We are always looking at the possibilities of extending into known and viable coal reserves but it doesn’t mean that it will come to an application.”
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Weather for Selby
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
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Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
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