Backing for mine plans come from business pair

Two of the North East's leading business organisations have backed the employment and investment impact of a proposed surface mine.

By The Newsroom

Published 4th Jun 2016, 15:00 BST

A map of the proposed site boundary for Highthorn.

The North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) and the CBI for the North East have written to the county council to support Banks Mining’s Highthorn project, earmarked for near Widdrington. They also highlight the importance of investing in meeting the country’s energy needs.

At least 100 jobs would be created by Banks Mining at the Highthorn site, with 50 existing jobs transferring from the company’s current surface mine sites in Northumberland. An employment, skills development and training fund for local unemployed people also forms part of the project’s overall community benefits package.

The NECC states: ‘This scheme would lead to an estimated £48million-worth of local-supplier contracts and bring an additional £1.5million-worth of business rates into Northumberland.’

North East Northumberland