Metals & Minerals News

Banks reviews refusal for Highthorn surface coal mine

Banks Mining said it will consider its next steps following the Government’s decision to reject its application for a surface mine in Northumberland.

Consider: Banks Mining will review the Government’s reasons for refusing its plans for a new surface coal mine (Banks Mining)

On Tuesday (8 September), Housing, Communities and Local Government Minister, Robert Jenrick, said that the proposed open cast mine near Druridge Bay, Highthorn “would have an adverse impact on landscape character of substantial significance.”

Mr Jenrick ruled against the recommendations of a government Inspector, adding that “the proposed development is not likely to provide national, local or community benefits which clearly outweigh its likely impacts.”

Gavin Styles, executive director at Banks Mining, said today that the employment created from the proposals was needed because the UK was facing an “unprecedented economic crisis” and that British industry still needed coal.

He added that the Government’s refusal would mean the jobs would be given to miners in Russia as well as “significantly increasing global greenhouse gas emissions.”

“We are extremely disappointed that, more than four years after an independent planning inspector recommended that the Highthorn scheme should go ahead, the Secretary of State has once again chosen to go against this expert advice.

“This decision won’t solve the problem, but will instead make it worse.

“We will now review the precise reasons for this decision before agreeing on the most appropriate steps to take.

“We are grateful to the thousands of people and businesses who have given their backing to this project, including our colleagues and their families, our suppliers, customers and business associates, and the politicians who recognise the reasons why it is important for British industry to have a locally-based coal source.”

Banks was recently refused permission to extend its Bradley mine in Durham which is due to be completed in 2021. Some 500,000 tonnes of coal are extracted from the mine.

The company also has a coal mine at Brenkley Lane, Seaton Burn in Newcastle from which it is extracting 3.4 million tonnes of coal and some 200,000 tonnes of fireclay.

The mine began operating in 2010 and is due to be completed in 2021.

A joint application from Banks and Ibstock Brick for a new surface coal and fireclay mine at Dewley Hill, on the border of Newcastle and Northumberland, is still awaiting a decision from Newcastle City Council.

The proposals, submitted in 2019, are to extract 800,000 tonnes of high quality coal, most of which would be used for industrial purposes such as the production of steel and cement.

Some 400,000 tonnes of fireclay will also be extracted to manufacture bricks at Ibstock’s brickworks at Throckley, around half a mile from the mine.

The scheme would last for three and a half years from the start of operations in 2021 to the completion of restoration.