New Potash mine in North Yorks near Whitby.

Hagar

Hagar

Hagar

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Following on from Lancashires nimby reaction to fracking. Yorkshire has made a bold decision to build a new deep mine to extract potash from a mile down below the national park. this will require 1500m deep shafts, mine roadways and a 30km tunnel conveyor to the coast.

Potash is used for fertiliser and much will be exported to China and other parts of the world.

There is an existing big potash mine nearby at Boulby.

90% of the locals who commented were in favour of the mine as there is little local industry now that coal mining and fishing industries are in decline or closed altogether.

The National Park authorities etc. were less impressed. Local farmers maybe wealthier though with a small percentage cost per tonne of potash extracted going to them.

I have to declare an interest as I have already done some initial design work on the deep excavation support that will be required to construct the site. IMO this is the sort of large profitable industry to support the locality and the country in terms of employment and exports.
 
I think it's fantastic news, for a part of the country which offers little to working age people due to a lack of employment opportunities. My family live up there, though I have spent my entire working life living in the Midlands and the South East :(. I'd love to live up there. Fantastic place.

The only thing I find disappointing is that they aren't reopening the Scarborough - Whitby railway line, which I believe was part of the original proposal.
 
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So long as it's discrete, given the location and once exhausted restored properly then can't see the issue.
 
My mates happy he took a punt on some shares in this before the planning was granted stands to make 100-200% on his initial investment
 
Woop woop, roll on 80p share price :D I heard about all this back in 2011 and was strongly advised to take a punt and buy some shares in the company.

Looks like it's payday :D :D
 
Any idea where the coast line will end up?

Great news though, I know the area well. I hope it gives the region a boost and a much better alternative to fracking.
 
Dis86 said:
So long as it's discrete, given the location and once exhausted restored properly then can't see the issue.
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Restored to nature or restored to industry?

I'm hoping the former but I'm guessing the latter will happen. Why provide real natural areas when you can plant conifers for harvesting by the FC or slash and burn heather for grouse moors.

I hope you didn't think the NY moors was natural?:p It's almost as intensely managed as an industrial concern as the the rest of the countryside.
 
Nutella33 said:
Any idea where the coast line will end up?

Great news though, I know the area well. I hope it gives the region a boost and a much better alternative to fracking.
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In the same place it is now, the mine is mostly undergound.

Ironic given the fact any contamination of groundwater from fracking would be by saline water, if it occurred. Made saline by potash dissolved and percolated through the water in Carboniferous. Instead of a 12" hole for tracking they are building a 18 foot hole and then pumping highly saline water miles, just above the water table. :D

The reality is, done properly, both only have a very small/minimal chance of doing any lasting damage, if Sirius can make sure they don't have major gas leaks...
 
Amp34 said:
Restored to nature or restored to industry?

I'm hoping the former but I'm guessing the latter will happen. Why provide real natural areas when you can plant conifers for harvesting by the FC or slash and burn heather for grouse moors.

I hope you didn't think the NY moors was natural?:p It's almost as intensely managed as an industrial concern as the the rest of the countryside.
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Restored to nature. There were a large number of open cast mines near me that have been restored to their original wild hibitats. Hawthorn woods. Meadowland. Deciduous woodland.
 
Awesome! :) I take it the national trust (advocates of slash and burn heather growing) aren't near you?

It's also good to see not all mines are left with vehicles and toxic water (see the thread about the lake further down.
 
Amp34 said:
Awesome! :) I take it the national trust (advocates of slash and burn heather growing) aren't near you?

It's also good to see not all mines are left with vehicles and toxic water (see the thread about the lake further down.
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Not national trust. The mining companies had to do it in order to get permission to work in the first place. They've actually improved the quality of the land in all cases
 
anything I don't mind said:
These days they can do mining operations with far less environment impact than 100s years ago, if they put their mind to it.
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Totally, which is why the mine was passed, almost all of it is underground (not just the excavation part, or outside the park). I just find it odd, being in another extractive industry, how companies can leave huge holes in the ground full of water made almost toxic by leaching, buildings and vehicles. We would be lynched if we did that (and we are even if we aren't).
 
Dis86 said:
So long as it's discrete, given the location and once exhausted restored properly then can't see the issue.
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What about traffic though? Where it will be located there is no rail link, and the roads round there are not made for constant use by big trucks.
 
qqg3 said:
What about traffic though? Where it will be located there is no rail link, and the roads round there are not made for constant use by big trucks.
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After the initial building phase there probably won't be much. They are shipping all the potash out as slurry in a long pipeline buried underground. If you really want to know what their traffic management system will be (and predicted traffic) then have a look at their planning application, it'll be in there.
 
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