Andy Hall wrote:
On Thu, 19 Jan 2006 23:25:38 +0000, John wrote:


On Thu, 19 Jan 2006 21:43:13 +0000, tony sayer
wrote:


What an odd approach!. As I understand it its been there for some
million odd years or so, how come 20 odd years will spoil it?...

Because most mines are now either flooded, filled in or subsided.

Coal mining is a dangerous business - mines are more than just holes
in the ground. They go a hell of a long way down, a hell of a long
way out, and are very complex affairs. Generations took that kind of
work, and its inevitable dangers, for granted. That tradition was
destroyed forever by Thatcher.


The main tradition that was destroyed was the industrial anarchy.


Though substantial deposits were left
and coal remains a viable fuel with appropriate technology.

Starting up new pits, even draining and re-starting old ones, would be
a colossally expensive business, even if we could get people to go
down there, which I doubt these days.


I am quite sure that when the price point of other fuels reaches a
certain value, this will happen, provided that there are not cheaper
imports from elsewhere such as China.

There will be suitable technology and pay levels sufficient to attract
people to do the work. It's simply a question of what the figure is.

Would make a great replacement for the ASBO methinks