A review of the UK’s former coalfield communities is underway to speed up regeneration plans.

Housing Minister John Healey says he wants to give new impetus to the regeneration of ex-pit areas ‘devastated’ by the closure of deep mines.

More than £1.5bln is said to have been invested nationally into initiatives to transform former coalfield communities in the last 10 years, helping almost 150,000 ex-miners into new jobs or training.

But the Minister said that more needs to be done to revive communities that still face long-term ‘worklessness’ and poverty.

This review will look at how to get the best out of national coalfields programmes operating across the country.

Barnsley MP and former miner, Michael Clapham, is to chair the review committee into regenerating coal mining areas in Yorkshire, and will examine how money invested by the Government is being used in former pit towns.

In related news, research by the Mineral Products Association (MPA), based in London, UK, has revealed that local communities are failing to benefit fully from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF), the main purpose of which is to support community and environmental improvement schemes in areas affected by aggregates extraction.

Just two per cent of the industry tax, designed to relieve the pressures of quarrying, has been returned to communities in Devon and Cornwall, claims the MPA. It has called for the sum to be at least doubled to ensure those living near quarries benefit.

Further information: MPA