Kellingley pit will close 'by end of 2015' following funding decision
Kellingley Colliery is set to close by the end of the year after the Government declined operators' requests for additional funding.
Selby
UK Coal had bid for £338 million of public money to help extend the life of the deep mine for a further three years.
The pit's closure is now expected by the end of 2015 following a decision by Minister for Business, Matthew Hancock, who said the scheme did not represent "value for money". The expedited closure of the 'Big K' complex is now set to hasten the redundancies of the 700 people who work there.
The Government may now step in to provide upto £10m in funding to keep the troubled company's original closure plans on track.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Immediate help for UK Coal workers and their families is welcome, but this announcement doesn't resolve the long-term problems facing the UK coal industry, in terms of both job and energy security."