Last Deep Coal Mine in the UK to Close Its Doors Today

As the last deep coal mine in the UK prepares to shut down today, the 450 miners who have worked at Kellingley Colliery in North Yorkshire will be receiving severance packages of 12 weeks' pay. The closure marks the end of an era for the coal industry in the UK, with owners UK Coal overseeing the rundown of the pit before it is redeveloped. Miners will join a march in nearby Knottingley on Saturday to mark the closure, a poignant reminder of the industry's decline. The closure has been described as a "sad day" for the country and the industry, with critics pointing to the failure of successive governments to halt the pit closures.

Key Takeaways:

• Kellingley Colliery, the last deep coal mine in the UK, will close its doors today, marking the end of an era for the coal industry in the UK.
• The 450 miners who work at the pit will receive severance packages of 12 weeks' pay.
• Owners UK Coal will oversee the rundown of the pit before it is redeveloped.
• The closure is a result of successive governments' failure to halt the pit closures, with critics pointing to both Conservative and Labour governments.
• Miners from the pit will join a march in nearby Knottingley on Saturday to mark the closure.
• The Mines Rescue Service will relocate its operation at Kellingley to Knottingley next year, offering training and services to industries including nuclear and aerospace.
• Many miners have worked at the pit for 20, 30, 40, or even 50 years, with some struggling to come to terms with the closure.
• The morale of the miners is "rock bottom," with some expressing anger, frustration, and fear about their future.

Statistics:

• 450: the number of miners who have worked at Kellingley Colliery and will receive severance packages.
• 12 weeks: the amount of pay that miners will receive as severance packages.
• 30 million tons: the estimated amount of untouched coal at Kellingley Colliery that will be sealed with concrete.
• 450 years: the estimated number of years of coal mining experience among the miners who will be redundant.
• 6: the number of sites operated by the Mines Rescue Service across the UK.

Sources:

• Press Association: "Final miner leaves Kellingley Colliery"
• National Union of Mineworkers (NUM): statement by Chris Kitchen, general secretary
• GMB union: statement by Phil Whitehurst, national officer
• Kellingley and Knottingley Miners' Welfare Scheme Social Club: interview with Keith Poulson, branch secretary for Kellingley NUM
• NUM official Maurice Kent, as quoted in the article.