MP Calls for Funding Package for Restoration and
Enterprise Status for the Coalfield Area
Sandra raises Opencast Crisis with Secretary of State
Local MP, Sandra Osborne raised the Opencast crisis with Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore at Scottish Questions in the House of Commons last week. This followed on from the latest meeting of the Opencast Taskforce at Dumfries House.
Hargreaves told the MP at the meeting that they are still on track for 300 jobs in a three to six month time frame and 500 within a year. Fiona Lees, Chief Executive of East Ayrshire Council, also reported on the outstanding restoration work stating that the Council will shortly receive a report from mining engineers on the full extent of the problem.
No Council has money to deal with this
Sandra said,
“The Chief Executive reported that un-restored land is the equivalent in size of 4000 football pitches and there are 22 large voids. She rightly stated that no Council has the money required to deal with this national crisis.
The Bottom Line
I understand that there are complex issues to be dealt with by the various agencies which make up the Taskforce. However, the bottom line is that a substantial sum of money is required and it is time we received assurances on where this is coming from. The Chair of the Taskforce, Scottish Government Minister, Fergus Ewing, stated the obvious when he said there is no budget for this and the money would have to be taken from somewhere else, but I believe the people of East Ayrshire have a right to expect any responsible government to step in when an unexpected crisis occurs – it is a matter of political will.
Chair says ‘not the purpose of the Taskforce’
He also stated that it is not the purpose of the Taskforce to consider the wider social and economic impact of the job losses, even though we received a report of this from the Council and Scottish Enterprise.
Pressing need
There is a pressing need for special measures such as the granting of Enterprise Status for the area. This has happened elsewhere in Scotland where companies have closed. Along with my colleagues, I will continue to press for th
Enterprise Status for the Coalfield Area
Sandra raises Opencast Crisis with Secretary of State
Local MP, Sandra Osborne raised the Opencast crisis with Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore at Scottish Questions in the House of Commons last week. This followed on from the latest meeting of the Opencast Taskforce at Dumfries House.
Hargreaves told the MP at the meeting that they are still on track for 300 jobs in a three to six month time frame and 500 within a year. Fiona Lees, Chief Executive of East Ayrshire Council, also reported on the outstanding restoration work stating that the Council will shortly receive a report from mining engineers on the full extent of the problem.
No Council has money to deal with this
Sandra said,
“The Chief Executive reported that un-restored land is the equivalent in size of 4000 football pitches and there are 22 large voids. She rightly stated that no Council has the money required to deal with this national crisis.
The Bottom Line
I understand that there are complex issues to be dealt with by the various agencies which make up the Taskforce. However, the bottom line is that a substantial sum of money is required and it is time we received assurances on where this is coming from. The Chair of the Taskforce, Scottish Government Minister, Fergus Ewing, stated the obvious when he said there is no budget for this and the money would have to be taken from somewhere else, but I believe the people of East Ayrshire have a right to expect any responsible government to step in when an unexpected crisis occurs – it is a matter of political will.
Chair says ‘not the purpose of the Taskforce’
He also stated that it is not the purpose of the Taskforce to consider the wider social and economic impact of the job losses, even though we received a report of this from the Council and Scottish Enterprise.
Pressing need
There is a pressing need for special measures such as the granting of Enterprise Status for the area. This has happened elsewhere in Scotland where companies have closed. Along with my colleagues, I will continue to press for th