Scottish MP heaps praise on Banks Mining

Hannah Bardell applauds firm’s engagement with neighbours and commitment to local economy

A SCOTTISH Member of Parliament has praised West Lothian private sector employers Banks Mining following a recent visit to their Rusha surface coal mine. Hannah Bardell, MP for Livingston, applauded the firm’s engagement with the neighbouring communities and its commitment to the West Lothian economy.

Hamilton-based Banks Mining have been operating at the Rusha site, near Breich, since 2012, as part of a seven-year coal-extraction project. At present, around 50 people work at the site, with the company spending close to £4 million per year with various central belt suppliers.

Ms Bardell (pictured with Rusha site manager Ian Ritchie) said: ‘Banks Mining have proven themselves to be a welcome addition to the local economy and it is great to hear of them prioritizing smaller local firms in the supply chain as well as providing skilled jobs for a local workforce.

‘When the surface mine Rusha was in planning, concerns were raised in the local area and I am pleased that Banks Mining have addressed those concerns and will also restore the site for the benefit of the region.

‘However, by going the extra mile, through measures to minimize dust and debris leaving the site, as well as closely monitoring traffic and noise levels leaving the mine, Rusha has proven itself to be a responsible neighbour.’

She added: ‘The Banks Community Fund has been – and continues to be – an important source of funding for valued local groups. This is very important at a time of great financial difficulty and austerity throughout the UK.’

Jim Donnelly, divisional director at Banks Mining, said: ‘We were delighted to welcome Hannah Bardell MP to our site and it was great to see her interact with members of our team – the vast majority of whom live in her Livingston constituency.

‘From our conversations with Hannah, we found ourselves agreeing on a number of local matters – the importance of the site’s contribution to the local economy, apprenticeships and the development of the skills base within West Lothian, as well as the need to fully restore the mine once coal extraction has been completed so that it is left in the best possible condition.

‘Our ‘Development with Care’ approach commits us to operating our mining sites to the highest environmental standards and we are proud of our status as the only operator in the UK to have fully restored every one of the 110 surface mines that we have operated since Banks Mining started operations in 1976.

‘Once we complete mining operations at Rusha, we will fully restore the site, returning it to a mix of farmland and forestry, including the creation of an area of diverse woodland with new public footpaths, areas for recreational use, and additional water bodies and areas of ecological interest.’