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Application for additional extraction at Shotton

PLANS to extract an additional 2 million tonnes of coal from the Shotton surface mine in Northumberland have been submitted by Banks Mining for assessment by the County Council.

According to Banks, the additional scheme will not involve mining on any land outside the existing Shotton site or any increase in daily traffic movements.

Located on the Blagdon Estate, to the west of Cramlington, the Shotton mine has been active since the beginning of 2008. Around 3.4 million tonnes of coal, 2 million tonnes of shale and 750,000 tonnes of fireclay were originally approved to be mined over the eight-year lifetime of the scheme, finishing in 2016.

Banks are now asking for an extension of the overall life of the site until 2018 to allow the additional 2 million tonnes of coal supplies to be recovered.

If approved, extraction operations will finish in 2016, with full restoration of the site to be completed during 2018.

Mark Dowdall, Banks’ environment and community director, said: ‘The Shotton mine has now been operating very successfully for more than two years, especially with regard to the positive relationships we maintain with local communities.

‘We believe there are strong operational, environmental and economic arguments for recovering this additional coal, which we hope will be recognized by Northumberland County Council.’

A decision on the planning application is expected in early 2011.

 
 

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