This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/7183625.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Miners vote on deep pit's future | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
The future development of Tower Colliery, Wales' last deep mine due for closure, has been put to a ballot by the miners who own the pit. | |
A shareholders' meeting was held to decide when to call an end to work at the Cynon Valley mine and select a firm to redevelop the site. | |
The pit first closed in 1994 but reopened a year later when 240 miners invested their redundancy money. | |
It is thought it will close for the last time on 25 January. | |
Around 150 shareholders from Tower Colliery met on Saturday morning to discuss what will happen to the site once the mine closes. | |
A secret ballot was held to select a company to help redevelop the 480-acre site but the results of the vote will not be made public until next week. | |
Tower has been hailed for its success - it has employed 375 miners since it reopened 13 years ago. | |
Drift mine | |
First Minister Rhodri Morgan cited the buy-out by the miners as a pivotal moment in Wales' national self-confidence which led to the vote for devolution in 1999. | |
However, Tower's depleted coal reserves has meant it is expected to close this month, or early February, depending on whether a newly-discovered coal seam can be worked out. | |
Mine leaders have been in talks to set up a joint venture with Aberpergwm drift mine in the Neath Valley and it is hoped around 100 jobs could be saved if the venture goes ahead. | Mine leaders have been in talks to set up a joint venture with Aberpergwm drift mine in the Neath Valley and it is hoped around 100 jobs could be saved if the venture goes ahead. |
To mark the colliery's impending closure, managing director Tyrone O'Sullivan and Cynon Valley MP Ann Clwyd have agreed to participate in a talk at Ramoth chapel in Hirwaun on Sunday evening. | |
The 1800 GMT event will look at the pit's role in the community as well as give a dozen past and present miners the opportunity to share their experiences. | The 1800 GMT event will look at the pit's role in the community as well as give a dozen past and present miners the opportunity to share their experiences. |
'Future without mining' | |
Chapel elder Ivan Davies said: "It's the end of a era. The very reason these valleys were established as large communities is totally as a result of mining. | Chapel elder Ivan Davies said: "It's the end of a era. The very reason these valleys were established as large communities is totally as a result of mining. |
"These important events just seem to slip away and they are forgotten. | "These important events just seem to slip away and they are forgotten. |
"My idea is to look at the significance of this event, to pay our tribute to what's gone on the past and look forward to the future without mining." | "My idea is to look at the significance of this event, to pay our tribute to what's gone on the past and look forward to the future without mining." |
Previous version
1
Next version