Fears over future of colliery site

Former miners say the colliery should stay

People in the Forest of Dean are worried the redevelopment of a former colliery site will spell the end for the mining monument.

The old Northern United Mine is home to a monument to coal mining in the Gloucestershire forest.

But the site was recently bought by the South West Redevelopment Agency (RDA) which is carrying out tests to see if it can be reused.

Local people are concerned at the proposals - they say the mine played a vital role in the growth of Cinderford, and should be preserved as it is.

Rare bats

Maurice Bent, the last miner to leave the colliery almost 40 years ago, has also criticised the plans.

"I feel that it is our heritage. The atmosphere here was one of comradeship." he told the BBC.

"There were six miners who died here and these buildings should be saved as part of our industrial heritage. It must not be flattened."

A recent discover of 100 Lesser Horseshoe bats on the site has added an unusual element to discussions on its future.

The RDA is planning a special hotel for the rare creatures.