March

Northumberland

H.J.Banks
Delhi site
* Coaling started during September 2002. Site operations will last 4 years.
* Banks will be submitting an application for an extension to the site - this is expected at the end of March 2003.
Pre-application information indicates that the extension area is 21 ha with 13 workable seams - containing 590,000 tonnes of coal + 50,000 tonnes of fireclay. The proposed market for the coal is Alcan power station at Lynmouth and the fireclay will be sold to the Ibstock's Throckley brick works.
* H.J.Banks also issued a public announcement in late-February 2003 that it would extract coal from part of the Delhi site by using an auger.

Extensions to the Maiden's Hall and Stobswood sites
The legal agreements for the two planning permissions have yet to be issued. More information on noise issues was required by the County Council from UK Coal.
It is expected that the agreement will be finalised before Easter 2003.

County Durham

Clay Services/Banks Group + Ibstock Brick
Wheatley Head
The public inquiry was held in September 2002.
The decision letter [late-February 2003] from the Secretary of State noted that the appeal was refused.
The key issues was that the need for the clay from the site was unproven - and therefore the impact from the site transport was unjustifiable. The Red Barns site in South Tyneside has subsequently been approved - providing adequate clay for Throckley [without the need for blending from Wheatley Head].

Quarrington
The public inquiry for the coal extraction and mixed use development is scheduled to commence on 13th May 2003.
A new inspector has been appointed to handle the appeal - and he may require a further pre-inquiry meeting before Easter.

UK Coal Plc
Coaling at Eldon Deep Site was completed in January 2003.

UK Coal Plc
Southfield site
Coaling commenced in late-January 2003 - but full production at the site is not expected until late-March/early-April
Equipment is being transferred to Southfield from Eldon Deep and other sites.