The last of the coal to be extracted is loaded onto plant machinery on the final day of operations at the Bradley Open Cast MineOne of England’s last remaining mines extracted its final lump of coal yesterday, bringing thousands of years of history in Co Durham to a close. The Banks Group, which owns Bradley mine, had sought to expand the site but was turned down earlier this summer after a campaign by environmental and local activists. The company said that without the expansion, which would extracted a further 90,000 tonnes of coal each year, mining in the area was no longer viable. In February a coalition of former miners and activists from Extinction Rebellion was formed to protest against the planning application. Durham county council received more than 5,500 objections to the plan, many on

Source: The Times August 17, 2020 23:03 UTC