The UK's biggest coal producer placed further uncertainty over jobs yesterday by announcing plans to mothball its second deep mine this year.
UK Coal said the site at Rossington, near Doncaster, would suffer the same fate as its nearby Harworth mine, which will cease production at the end of the year. The company also closed the Ellington colliery, in Northumberland, in February.
At the same time as announcing half-year losses of £30.6m yesterday, UK Coal said attempts to support further development at Rossington had failed and the mine would be mothballed once current extraction is completed, likely to be early next year.
A spokesman said the company had kept the option to reopen the Rossington and Harworth sites.
Rossington employs more than 300 people while there are 400 workers at Harworth, many of whom may be redeployed to other UK sites, including five other deep mines
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article