By Jenny Barwise

June 22, 2017 - Further details have emerged about West Cumbria Mining’s planned project to bring mining back to Whitehaven, England.

The company lodged a planning application for Woodhouse Colliery last month and revealed it estimates it will run up to six trains a day, along the existing coastal rail line, to take coal to UK steel producers or to Redcar where it will be exported to Europe.

People have the chance to view the plans themselves at three public open days, starting tomorrow (Friday) and running until Sunday, between 10am and 4pm.

Speaking about the railway side of the project, communications manager Helen Davies said: “All products will be transported from the mine by underground conveyor to the railway siding which will be situated on the northern part of the Pow Beck valley.

“From being mined, the coal does not see the light of day until it reaches the coal wagons, which will be operated by our preferred and appointed rail freight provider Freightliner.”

She said there was no requirement to build a new railway station as the rail loading facility will be situated away from the main site where the majority of workers will be employed.

News that building work could begin early next year has been welcomed by people living in the area.

A Facebook group, We Support West Cumbria Mining, has attracted hundreds of members in a matter of days.

Kenny Bell said: “I’m over the moon that not just coal mining but any sort of mining is coming back to West Cumbria.” And David Carr wrote: “Mining is in a lot of local people’s blood and I know a lot of folks will be jumping at a chance to be part of the reintroduction of the industry locally.”

The plan was first revealed three years ago to extract coking coal off the coast of St Bees, with a processing plant on the former Marchon site at Kells.

A decision on the application is expected in as little as 14 weeks and building work could then start six months later.

Coal mining operations are expected to begin in 2019.

More than 1,600 people have expressed an interest in working at the mine. The scheme will employ 518 people and bosses have said that at least 80 percent of these will go to locals.

The public open days take place at the company’s office at Haig Pit, Kells.

And on July 12 there will be the first Supplier Open Day for local businesses and individuals to find out how to be involved in the construction phase and beyond.

They all take place at the company’s offices at Haig Pit, Kells.