Leadgate (Bradley) opencast update. Drone flight. February 2020

[@lcannfieldplain4012]

Cracking videos, I hope they do leave a quarry filled with water and it used as wildlife and/or leisure feature make a great feature for the area!

[@assessorjohn]

Thank you, yes I'd like to see some kind of water feature left too.

[@rh120c]

Great job by banks mining, tidy looking site, keeping people in work, keeping the supply trade in work and bringing money into the local economy, and put back to green belt land when the job is compete. Keep up the great work, fingers crossed permission is granted for the highthorne o.c.c.s

[@assessorjohn]

Hi, Thanks for watching and leaving a comment, sorry to take so long to reply, I've missed a whole bunch of messages and only just came across them. Coal extraction is finished there now and it's just a matter of moving the overburden pile and restoration work which is to be completed by Sept 2021. I understand that permission for the extended work was refused.

[@UKAbandonedMineExplores]

Hmm, wonder what the ponds are for? Been informed they have come across several of the old mines recently. Need to get some videos done with that drone :o). Couldn't include footage in my intro as needed very quick shots it turned out. Shame about the historic workings :o(

[@junedavison9133]

The 'ponds' are lagoons. They capture the toxic run off. Minewater is directed into the lagoons in efforts to prevent pollution of nearby watercourse which run into the Derwent and the Tyne. The water is also used for dust suppression. I can see dust in the footage but not a water bowser in sight.

[@UKAbandonedMineExplores]

@@junedavison9133 Ahh, thanks.

[@northerndave1114]

I hope they keep bits they find, would be nice not much around now.

[@UKAbandonedMineExplores]

David Nixon I do believe they have rescued some

[@UKAbandonedMineExplores]

Getting brave with that drone lol

[@assessorjohn]

Pulling back quite a bit really, the new laws and online testing added a few shackles but I do my best :)

[@UKAbandonedMineExplores]

@@assessorjohn Need a larger drone with a huge zoom lens!

[@susanelliott1912]

Brilliant footage as always John. Shame it's there though! You made it to Field House yet?

[@assessorjohn]

Thank you Susan, and no - we had one decent day in ages! It's in the book though. :)

[@susanelliott1912]

@@assessorjohn -yes, it's not been drone weather, for sure. Thanks again for your amazing flight footage. You know I'm a particular fan of your Weardale flights.

[@archive395]

Thanks for the footage and the update. Very well shot. It is a horrible to see for those who fought over 30 years to stop, who know the area, care about wildlife or climate change. Banks Group (the coal company) want to extend to the West of the site. A planning hearing will happen in the next couple of months. The area threatened is a rich green to the right of the shot at around 4m35. If you want to object check out www.coalaction.org.uk/2019/12/object-to-banks-expansion

[@junedavison9133]

I appreciate the footage John and helpful and necessary to record this for future generations. As someone who fought against opencast destruction in the Pont Valley for over 26 years, it's really, really painful to watch.

[@assessorjohn]

In the previous video I shot at Bradley open cast there is a digger setting up in the westerly field you mention. Presumably testing the ground there prior to mining it.

[@northerndave1114]

What are the bonds for?

[@northerndave1114]

Ponds*

[@assessorjohn]

David Nixon the rainfall run off is guided into them so that any contaminants can settle out instead of entering the natural waterways. I think they also use it to dampen the roadways to control dust.

[@magicker8052]

what are they mining?

[@assessorjohn]

magicker coal.

[@junedavison9133]

@@assessorjohn un needed coal. Banks say it's suitable for steel making, but a recent official report shows coal recovered from one of the widest seams, Hutton, is of poor quality. The environmental statement put forward by UK Coal in their application stated only 15% would be suitable for coking. Dec 2019 government statistics show a drop of 40% in imported coal. The UK has twice as much coal as needed for the run out of coal fired power stations. It's sitting in stock piles. This coal is not needed.

[@assessorjohn]

@@junedavison9133 Sufficient to last until 2025 apparently.