Banks to maintain integrity of Mainshill
Mines Restoration Ltd award Banks Mining maintenance contract for Mainshill surface mine project
NORTH East mining firm Banks Mining have won a contract to carry out maintenance work at the site of a former surface coal mine in South Lanarkshire.
Banks have been appointed by Mines Restoration Ltd (MRL) to carry out the work at the Mainshill surface mine, which is located to the east of the town of Douglas, alongside the A70.
The Mainshill site has not been mined since former operators Scottish Coal went into administration last year. A seven-strong Banks team is now undertaking a programme of works on site, and is expected to be at Mainshill for around eight weeks.
Banks Mining have operated and restored well over 100 surface mines across Scotland and the north of England over the last 35 years, and have substantial experience of carrying out the type of work required at Mainshill.
The company currently operates the Rusha surface mine in West Lothian, and was also responsible for the development of the world-renowned Northumberlandia landform, which was fashioned using 1.5 million tonnes of carefully selected stone, clay and soil extracted from its adjacent Shotton surface mine in south east Northumberland as part of its ‘restoration first’ approach to working the still-operational site.
MRL is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust, an independent and charitable body established to facilitate the process of communities and other stakeholders in restoring open cast sites across Scotland.
MRL acquired the remaining seven Scottish Coal sites in July this year following the transfer of environmental licences by SEPA. MRL are now engaging with local authorities, landowners and community groups to discuss and develop pragmatic restoration plans for each of the sites.
Professor Russel Griggs, chair of Scottish Mines Restoration Trust Ltd, said: ‘The maintenance programme will ensure the integrity of the site as we continue to work with local stakeholders to develop a pragmatic restoration plan for Mainshill.’
Jim Donnelly, divisional director at Banks Mining, added: ‘Issues surrounding the maintenance of former surface mine sites across Scotland have come to real prominence in recent months, and the work we’re undertaking at Mainshill will ensure that the integrity of the site is maintained.
‘Our team is highly experienced in carrying out this type of work, and being chosen by Mines Restoration Ltd to carry it out is pleasing recognition of the expertise that we have to offer in this field.’
