WCM – PROJECT UPDATE NEWSLETTER – NOVEMBER 2019
CEO Update
As you may be aware, Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, submitted a request for call-in of the planning decision to the Secretary of State immediately following Cumbria County Council’s unanimous planning committee decision in March.
Last Friday, the WCM team received news from Copeland MP, Trudy Harrison, that the request for call-in had been rejected by the Secretary of State for MHCLG, Robert Jenrick. This followed on from news on Thursday that Cumbria County Council, had unanimously rattified the planning approval decision.
My team and I remain completely focussed on delivering the Woodhouse Colliery project and have been working hard on the discharge of planning conditions, including establishment of baseline monitoring and other preparatory works.
We would like to thank everyone who continues to send us messages of support and look forward to moving the project forward to the next stage.
Mark
CEO
Site Investigations contract awarded
WCM is pleased to announce that it has awarded the contract for the first phase of its site investigation works. Under the contract, between now and the end of the year, desk-based studies will be carried out and a detailed site investigation plan completed in order for WCM to be able to commence physical site works next year.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
WCM have always recognised the value of the knowledge of the local community, the mining history, heritage and the local environment. However, as a responsible developer we recognise that there is a need to be an industry leader with regards to our CSR strategy.
WCM has spent considerable time further developing its plan and is looking at initiatives including tree planting to offset CO2, upland peatbog restoration to assist with natural flood defences, re-wilding schemes to support and protect natural processes and the preservation of the mining heritage of West Cumbria through the purchase of the Haig Colliery site and cataloguing of the museum collection.
Equipment Manufacturers
Plans are progressing well around the commencement of the construction phase of the project in Spring 2020, including key equipment procurement.
Setting the standards for Training & Development
Over the last few months our Training and Development coordinator, Jasmine Nock, has begun working on a project to identify the skills and training needs that the business will require for Woodhouse Colliery in the future.
This has involved looking at the National Occupational Standards that are required for the underground roles the business will need and developing a detailed framework of training and development to support this.
Using this framework, Jasmine has now started to identify training packages for each of the roles outlining the various courses that will be needed. This will ensure that those that work for WCM will have a clear training plan to enable them to fulfil their job and personal development and ultimately ensure the business has a competent workforce.
This month, Jasmine had the opportunity to present her work to date to the Mining Qualification Committee, a group made up from industry representatives and legal bodies, and this was very well received.
WCM Drop-in Session
WCM will be opening its office to the local community on Wednesday 11th December from 2pm until 6pm. Please feel free to come along for a catch-up over a mince pie and a cup of tea. Formal update events will be announced in the new year.
The Museum Collection catalogue will be available to view on this afternoon should you wish to have a look at what the collection comprises of. Any general enquiries about the collection should be directed to [email protected] where one of the team will be happy to help.
WCM Marketing Agreement
A major milestone in the development of WCM’s Woodhouse Colliery project was reached earlier this month, when we entered into an exclusive marketing and offtake agreement with Javelin Global Commodities – demonstrating confidence in a premium UK source of steelmaking coal and long-term product demand.
Preserving Cumbria’s mining heritage
The team have started to develop a plan to identify restoration works which may be required in the future. WCM will be engaging with the Conservation Officer of Copeland Borough Council to discuss these plans.
Section 106 Agreement
The team have worked to progress landowner agreements and the legal Section 106 agreement, which includes agreed terms on all of the important remediation strategy and forms part of the planning requirements.
This provides security around the restoration of the land on which the project sits ensuring that when the project closes the land is returned to its former condition.
Talk To Us
WCM welcomes any further comments and feedback that you may have by email, post or telephone.
www.westcumbriamining.com
[email protected]
01946 848333
Haig Office
Solway Rd, Kells,
Whitehaven, Cumbria
CA28 9BG
Corporate Office
4th Floor, Oakfield House
35 Perrymount Rd
Haywards Heath, RH16 3BW
