Wigan Album

Graham,

Do you have any idea as to how many tonnes of coal remain down there and would it be possible / viable to open up again?

Hi Stew,there was approximately 100 million tons of coal reserves to what was then the current boundary of allowed take remaining at Parkside.As far as re-opening is concerned i very much doubt it.The cage ropes where cut along with the guide ropes in both shafts sending everything to the bottom of the pit,needless to say the damage caused to the shafts will be substantial,howeaver the shaft infill used was of fairly small size and in itself would not be impossible to remove but controlling the gas which will have built up over the last 15 years or so would be almost impossible,not to mention the water.

Thanks for that info Graham. Coal seems to be coming back into favour as source of fuel, Hatfield in full swing and clean burn coal fuelled power stations being built, and we are sat on all these reserves!! I don't think it will be to long until it will become profitable to re-open some pits.

Why does the pans look like it’s a rise face when it’s a dip. I wouldn’t put my name to that cut. Shocking. Chock men won’t be happy