On Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:26:34 +0100, "Bazzer Smith" invalid.net>
wrote:

It would only be equitable to first open the ones Old Labour closed
down under Calligan because he did it first. Calligan closed about as
many pits as did Thatcher did in the northern coalfields.

However, there are problems with that, it's dangerous to approach old
workings underground and in a lot of cases the pits were more or less
worked out anyway. The old mine owners, being of sound mind, took the
easiest coal first 100 - 200 years ago. Even the Selby drift mine, the
model coal mine of my childhood has been opened worked out and closed
since I was at school.

New pits could be sunk but the coal that's left is in the hard to win
deeper locations. There is a range of mountains that runs up the
middle of the country it is in the foothills of these mountains that
the coal seams break out near the surface so winnable coal would have
to come from deeper pits closer to and even out under the sea.

It's doubtful whether a coal mine as operated in the days of Old
Labour could exist in today's health and safety environment, all the
more so out under the sea.

Derek