Banks Mining seeking new opencast permission
BANKS Mining are to submit a planning application for a new surface coal mine in south-east Northumberland.
The proposed Ferneybeds site is located 8 miles north-west of Ashington, to the south of the village of Widdrington Station, and initial investigations suggest that it contains an estimated 750,000 tonnes of coal.
The company is now due to carry out drilling investigations to confirm the details of the coal reserves and will be submitting a scoping report to Northumberland County Council as part of initial consultations prior to the submission of a planning application later this year.
The site has been identified as a suitable site for a surface mine as it offers easy access to the nearby A1068, which would negate the need for arriving or departing HGVs to travel through Widdrington Station.
It is also a sufficient distance from the village to ensure that environmental issues can be managed in compliance with Northumberland County Council’s required limits.
If the site gets the go-ahead, it will support around 40 jobs directly, as well as many others in local supply chain businesses.
Banks currently operate the Shotton surface mine on the Blagdon Estate, to the west of Cramlington, and recently received approval for proposals for a new surface mine at Brenkley Lane, near Seaton Burn.
The proposed Ferneybeds site is located 8 miles north-west of Ashington, to the south of the village of Widdrington Station, and initial investigations suggest that it contains an estimated 750,000 tonnes of coal.
The company is now due to carry out drilling investigations to confirm the details of the coal reserves and will be submitting a scoping report to Northumberland County Council as part of initial consultations prior to the submission of a planning application later this year.
The site has been identified as a suitable site for a surface mine as it offers easy access to the nearby A1068, which would negate the need for arriving or departing HGVs to travel through Widdrington Station.
It is also a sufficient distance from the village to ensure that environmental issues can be managed in compliance with Northumberland County Council’s required limits.
If the site gets the go-ahead, it will support around 40 jobs directly, as well as many others in local supply chain businesses.
Banks currently operate the Shotton surface mine on the Blagdon Estate, to the west of Cramlington, and recently received approval for proposals for a new surface mine at Brenkley Lane, near Seaton Burn.
