Doncaster Council: Hatfield Colliery site a 'real danger' to public

Doncaster council says it is having to step in to secure the Hatfield Colliery site because it poses a 'real danger' to the public.

It has obtained advice that the soon to be vacated Hatfield Colliery site poses real danger to members of the public and action needs to be taken.

The Coal Authority will shortly be leaving the site once the shafts have been capped off but have no plans to make the site safe beyond this.

Surveys have shown that the headstocks are in a dilapidated condition and the site cannot be left in its current state for health and safety reasons.

The Council says that the costs of making the existing site safe and secure without demolition work are estimated to be £1million with significant ongoing maintenance and security costs every year. Although it cannot afford the works, the Council will have the headstocks demolished and the buildings made safe.

The demolition work will begin in early November but will be managed in a way which gives the Hatfield Main Colliery Community Association an opportunity to propose an appropriate solution for making the traditional steel lattice framed headstock safe and secure without it needing to come down.

The wheel gear and items of interest will be retained at the request of Mayor Ros Jones so they can be incorporated into suitable commemorations of Hatfield Colliery and Doncaster’s mining heritage.