Harworth: UK Coal says chances of Harworth Colliery reopening are ‘next to nil’

Harworth Colliery, Scrooby Road, Harworth (w110620-5j)

The pit has been mothballed since 2006 and its future has remained uncertain ever since.

UK coal, which owns the mine, had said that it planned to re-open it if investment could be found to develop a new coal seam.

However they announced at the weekend it would not re-open after a £10 million deal to close two other mines had been agreed.

Coun David Challinor, who represents Harworth at Bassetlaw Council, said: “People have been given hope for eight years now.”

“We suspected this was going to happen, and in one sense it’s a good thing because at least now they have told us the truth, but on the other hand it’s a landmark we will lose.”

Coun Challinor also said he would be asking UK Coal to save the two stone lions which sit on the pillars at the site entrance.

They were presented to the colliery by the Great North Eastern Railway.

Coal from Harworth Colliery had fuelled the journey when the Mallard A4 steam locomotive broke the world speed record on the East Coast Mainline.

The news came just 48 hours after UK Coal said the Government was to invest £10 million for a deal which would result in the closure of its pits by 2015.

Bassetlaw MP John Mann said the decision by UK Coal was ‘appalling’’

He added: “Harworth Estates is making millions of pounds of profit with the company.”

It is understood negotiations are underway with stakeholders.

But if a deal cannot be put together then the company faces immediate insolvency.

Andrew Mackintosh, of UK Coal, said: “If the deal goes ahead in the coming days we will close down the two working deep mines and Harworth Colliery will not be re-opened as part of this deal.”

“It’s with a very heavy heart that we now face an instant closing down.”

“Either that or a managed closing down over the next 18 months.” Mining at Harworth dates all the way back to 1919 with coal production beginning in 1924.

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