Borough Life Summer 2006: Mining new rich seam
Bickershaw Colliery in its heyday.
Almost fifteen years after the wheels turned for the last time, Bickershaw Colliery is again set to provide local jobs.
Council chiefs say they are determined to ensure that a multi-million pound regeneration of the colliery site benefits local people.
Proposals for the transformation of the former pit include a marina, eco-friendly housing, a large area of public open space and leisure activities such as bars, restaurants and shops around the waterfront.
There will be many employment and training opportunities. Through links with the local colleges and schools the Bickershaw site will be used for a range of educational benefits including nature conservation, landscape design, renewable energy, art and creativity.
Bickershaw Colliery and open cast mining ceased operations in 1992, bringing an end to coal mining in the Wigan coalfield.
Cllr Peter Smith, Leader of Wigan Council, said: “We’re fully committed to ensuring that employment and training opportunities that arise from the redevelopment of Bickershaw Colliery are transferred to the local community, and will be talking to developers about local labour schemes.”
Renewable energy technologies planned include a wind turbine located on the public open space which could offset the energy demand from the housing, high environmental building design standards and district heating schemes.
Work is set to start early next year and will be carried out over five or six years.