Restoring better times for our mining industry
The restoration of a former East Ayrshire surface mine has begun after its work contract was awarded.
Hamilton- based Banks Mining has been appointed by council chiefs and the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust ( SMRT) to carry out the work at the Ponesk surface mine, near Muirkirk.
The Ponesk site, along with the adjacent Spireslack surface mine, was abandoned when former operators Scottish Coal went bust in 2013. Work is expected to last 22 months. Restoration has been designed to “maximise opportunities” for the future use of the site, and will see the creation of a new landscape.
Professor Russel Griggs, chairman of SMRT, said: “To support the restoration of opencast mines that have been abandoned as a result of operators going into administration and liquidation, our objective has been to engage with the stakeholders involved in the restoration process and work with them to find solutions to the challenges and opportunities the sites of coal mines can bring.
“We have met this key objective for Ponesk by bringing together all relevant groups – along with Banks, which has a fine track record of delivering previous restoration projects – to implement a pragmatic and innovative approach to restoring the site.
“We have recently completed a successful restoration on Dunstonhill and these projects demonstrate what can be achieved when community groups, landowners, the private sector and Government work together.”
Michael Keane, head of planning at East Ayrshire Council, added: “This appointment is good news for the area and the local community.
“Banks Mining has a proven record of delivering restoration projects across the country and East Ayrshire Council is delighted to be working with them to progress with the restoration of the Ponesk opencast site.
“With the work already underway at Netherton and Dunstonhill, and soon to start at Skares, it is good to see real progress being made on the restoration of the opencast sites across East Ayrshire.”
Jim Donnelly, operations director at Banks Mining, said: “Issues surrounding the restoration of abandoned surface mine sites across Scotland have been high on the news agenda, especially in the areas where these sites are located.
“As someone who grew up in this part of Ayrshire, it saddens me to see the way large swathes of the county have been left in this situation, and the work we’re now undertaking at Ponesk will begin the process of returning this land to the local community.”