The end of coal production at the UK’s last remaining deep coal mine is scheduled to take place in a week’s time.
UK Coal confirmed that Kellingley Colliery in N Yorkshire is set to close on December 18, bringing an end to deep coal mining in this country.
The 450 miners who work at the pit – known locally as ther Big K – will receive severance packages at 12 weeks’ of average pay.
Phil Whitehurst, national officer of the GMB union, said: “The final 450 miners, the last in a long line stretching back for generations, are having to search for new jobs before the shafts that lead down to 30 million tons of untouched coal are sealed with concrete.
“Kellingley and the coal industry in general has been let down by successive governments – both Conservative and Labour – who have failed to halt the pit closures.
“Margaret Thatcher in 1984 wanted to break the NUM because it was the bastion of the trade union movement but failed, but David Cameron’s Conservative Government with no industrial strategy has now succeeded where Thatcher left off and the last deep mine in the UK is to go. This is a very sad day as our proud industrial heritage is destroyed by the Conservatives.”
Miners at the UK’s last remaining deep coal pit have spoken of their emotion at being told they will make their final journey to the coal face one week before Christmas.
Sadness, frustration and anger were the overriding feelings among miners at Kellingley Colliery in North Yorkshire today as it was confirmed that the mine will close on December 18.
But, after weeks of uncertainty about when the colliery would shut, there was also a sense of relief that the workers can now get on with their lives and plan for the future.
As late as the beginning of this week, workers said they were being told the mine could potentially remain open until December 21.
Many had arranged new employment, starting the week after December 18, and were left feeling anxious and annoyed at not knowing when Kellingley would close.
So today’s announcement was met with a mixture of relief and sadness.
Nigel Kemp, a banksman at the mine and an NUM committee member, said: “The reaction is still annoyance but we are relieved now we’ve got a date to work to.
“It’s still very emotional. Every day as we get closer to the 18th, it’s getting more and more emotional every day. Next Friday is going to be very emotional.
“There’s nothing we can do now to save the mine.”
Mr Kemp, 50, said the closure would hit the miners hard – especially those who had worked in the pit all their lives.
“People like myself, around the 50-year-old mark, they haven’t known anything else, they left school and came here at 16 years old, a lot of people have transferred here from other mines, they have no transferable skills and now they have to go out and find another job,” he said.
“But they will do it because we’re made of sterner stuff up here.”
