Off-roader repair shop Banks on regular business

Rusha surface mine operator spending £4 million a year with local service suppliers  

BANKS Mining have revealed that they are spending close to £4 million a year with various Central Belt suppliers at their Rusha surface mine site in West Lothian, Scotland.

The firm has been operating the Rusha site, near Breich, since 2012 as part of a seven-year coal-extraction project.

As part of the substantial local investment, Broxburn-based mechanics J and J McIndoe regularly service Banks’ four on-site Land Rovers and a Toyota pickup truck.

Maureen McIndoe, a member of the family business at the West Lothian garage, said: ‘This is our first time working with a mining company and its well-worked vehicles.

‘The Rusha vehicles require very regular maintenance – they come in every four to six weeks for brake checks etc and are serviced quarterly; this provides our garage with a substantial amount of work.

She added: ‘It’s great to see a business invest in West Lothian and commit to using local business to such an extent. We are 100% supportive of the work by Banks Mining at Rusha and hope to see our working relationship continue until the site is completed.’

Banks’ mining director, Jim Donnelly, said: ‘We are delighted that Maureen McIndoe has publicly expressed her support for our operations here at Rusha.

‘We have always been intent on using local suppliers whenever possible and our annual spend with suppliers in the central belt of Scotland is around £3.8 million.’

Banks Mining have permission to undertake operations at Rusha for a seven-year period, and once coaling is complete the 154ha site will be fully restored and landscaped to a mixture of woodland and agriculture.