Scottish Coal wants to mine 24 hours a day at Mainshill opencast

THERE is a spirit of sad resignation rather than sheer anger in the Douglas Valley this week as Scottish Coal asked to be released from ALL limits on the time it can operate its controversial Mainshill opencast mine each day.

Because of the mine’s close proximity to the Lady Home Hospital and the village of Douglas, an eight hours a day limit was agreed when the company was given the go-ahead to mine there over two years ago by South Lanarkshire Council and the Scottish Government.

However, the Gazette received a tip-off that the Mainshill workforce were to be asked by Scottish Coal bosses to co-operate with their plans to expand the working day by a third, from eight to twelve hours daily.

For more information on this story, pick up a copy of this week’s Carluke and Lanark Gazette which is in the shops now.

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