EYE Derbyshire firm Coalite did. Lewis Merthyr pit — its closure heralded hit list Mineworkers about the uneconomic pits have proved justified.
jobs.
Bryniliw colliery near Gorseinon the latest South Wales pit be threatened with 638 jobs at risk. Philip Weekes, the NCB area director, claims the pit uneconomic, despite the report of an investigating team which included mining experts from the Board itself. THE WORST FEARS of the National Union of 'hit list? of so-called Less than a week after Thatcher was returned to Number 10, the National Coal Board announced closure plans involving the loss of 65,000 mining The report found that there were at least 15 years of workable reserves leit in the pit and that Brynlliw should actually be expanded and new seams opened; their recommendations have been bowen ruled.
The miners at Bryniliw the NCB's judgement. As Eric Davies. lodge secretary, puts it:
"The reason that we are in a precarious position is simply because we have Suar vel of LICE machinery and development capital.
Bryniliw have had stomachful of this.
Now that the hit list has miners will be seeking to lnk togetner tne turcalel ed pits develop Solani ac01 The situation at Brynlliw is not unique, but left on their own they can be defeated as the ex. perience of Lewis Merthy at the beginning of this year showed.
In their attempts to improve operatino costs and 'balance their books NCB are quile pre pared to close pits with workable reserves. Feasibilit!
'expert reports will not save such pits.
As Arthur Scargill saic of the Tories' plans, las week, it is time to stanc up and fight.'