§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has about recent flooding of the River Aire and its effects on a large opencast site in Yorkshire; what assessment is available to him of the danger of further flooding from the Aire and Calder canal if the banks continue to be eroded; if he will take action to ensure that the river and canal banks are secured; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerI am advised by the British Coal Corporation that on Saturday 19 March the River Aire in West Yorkshire entered the St. Aidans opencast coal site through a breach in the river bank. A large volume of water remains within the site, which has temporarily ceased production, at a loss of 15,000 tonnes of coal per week output. No lives or property were lost during the incident.
Some erosion occurred on the river bank adjacent to the canal during the flooding. The position has now been stabilised and remedial work to the river bank is now substantially complete. There is now no danger of flooding from the canal.
British Coal is currently examining proposals with the relevant authorities which will permanently repair the breached river bank and enable work to be resumed on the site.