Thousands call on Government to save Thoresby pit

Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Sherwood, Léonie Mathers, and campaigners are calling on the Government to go further than the deal currently on the table that would see Thoresby colliery near Edwinstowe close in 2015 and workers laid off from May this year.

They want Ministers and UK Coal management to look again and explore every option to save the pit and the 600 jobs at the site.

The announcement of the deal to close Thoresby in 2015 comes just five months after Chancellor George Osborne visited Thoresby and told journalists he’d discussed with management how life at the pit could be extended and how the government could play a part in securing the mine’s future.

Miners are still waiting anxiously to hear full details of the deal, and for confirmation of whether it is to go ahead, following an outline announcement last week in Parliament.

Léonie said: “The closure of Thoresby would be a catastrophe for the miners and their families, but also for businesses in this area that rely on work from the pit and a tragedy for the UK coal industry at a time when we’re seeing very high levels of imported coal from places like Russia.

“That’s why I’m urging UK Coal, the Government and the unions to keep lines of communication open, and not to close off any options for the future.

She added: “Along with the people who signed my petition to government, I’m calling on the government to give Thoresby a future to secure jobs and safeguard Britain’s energy security.”