imported>Insignificanterror: Corrected typos - Haworth -> Harworth - as Harworth Group Plc.

2025-03-04T21:43:29Z

Corrected typos - Haworth -> Harworth - as Harworth Group Plc.

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox mine
| name = Daw Mill colliery
| image = Daw Mill Colliery 17s06.jpg
| width =
| caption = Entrance to Daw Mill colliery, September 2006
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_label =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates =
| scale =
| place = [[Arley, Warwickshire|Arley]], Warwickshire
| subdivision_type =
| state/province =
| country = United Kingdom
| owner = [[UK Coal]]
| official website = 
| acquisition year =
| stock_exchange =
| stock_code =
| products = Coal from the [[Warwickshire Coalfield|Warwickshire coalfield]]
| financial year =
| amount =
| opening year = {{Start date|1956}}
| active years = 1956–2013
| closing year = 2013
}}
'''Daw Mill''' was a coal mine located near the village of [[Arley, Warwickshire|Arley]], near [[Nuneaton]], in the English county of [[Warwickshire]]. The mine was Britain's biggest coal producer.<ref name="Guardian" /> It closed in 2013 following a major fire. It was the last remaining colliery in the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]].<ref name="Taylor">{{cite news|first=Matthew |last=Taylor |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/mar/07/daw-mill-colliery-closure-650-miners |title=Daw Mill colliery closure marks end of an era for 650 miners |newspaper=The Guardian |date=7 March 2013 |accessdate=9 October 2015}}</ref>

==Mine==
[[File:Train loading coal at the rapid loader at Daw Mill Colliery, May 2008.jpg|thumb|Loading coal into a train at the rapid loader at Daw Mill Colliery, May 2008]]
Daw Mill mined a five-metre thick section of the [[Warwickshire Coalfield]] (known as the ''Warwickshire Thick'') in the north of the county. It was owned and operated by [[UK Coal]] and in 2008 employed 680 people.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/dec/08/mining-fossilfuels|title= Colliery on track for record output shows King Coal is striving to regain crown|first= Terry|last= Macalister|work= The Guardian|date= 8 December 2008|accessdate= 20 February 2009}}</ref>

The two shafts that served Daw Mill were first sunk between 1956 and 1959, and 1969 and 1971 respectively. The mine was a natural extension of the former collieries [[Kingsbury Colliery]] and [[Dexter Colliery]], both of which have also closed. In 1983 an inclined tunnel linking underground workings with the surface was completed. This [[drift mining]] enabled Daw Mill to increase its production capacity as it removed the often time-consuming process of winding coal up the shafts.

Daw Mill was the last surviving mine in a county that once had 20 operating collieries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/tm_objectid=17266826&method=full&siteid=50003-name_page.html|title= Miner dies at Daw Mill|first= Steve|last= Evans|work= Coventry Telegraph|date= 21 June 2006|accessdate= 20 February 2009}}</ref> In 2008 it excavated 3.25 million [[tonne]]s of coal, beating a 13-year-old record for annual output at a British coal mine set at [[Selby]] in North Yorkshire.<ref name="Guardian"/>

==Transport==
[[File:66717 , Ogston.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[GB Railfreight]] [[British Rail Class 66|66717]] hauling a coal train to [[Drax power station]]]]
The colliery was situated on the [[Birmingham to Nuneaton Line]], just east of the former [[Shustoke railway station]]. Trains were operated (post [[British Rail]]) mainly by [[DB Cargo UK|EWS / DB Schenker]] but inroads were made by [[Fastline]], [[Freightliner Group|Freightliner]] and [[GB Railfreight]].

==Accidents==
Three men were killed at Daw Mill in mining accidents in 2006 and 2007. In 2011 UK Coal was fined £1.2 million for safety breaches.<ref>{{cite news|title=UK Coal fined over miner deaths at Daw Mill and Welbeck|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16182495|accessdate=22 December 2011|work=BBC News|date=14 December 2011}}</ref>

On 22 February 2013, a major fire broke out {{convert|500|m}} underground, described as the worst underground blaze in Britain for 30 years. UK Coal and [[Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service]] confirmed that 92 workers were safely extracted.<ref name="BBC-2013-02-25"/> As of 7 March 2013 the fire had still not been fully extinguished.<ref name="Taylor"/> It was initially estimated that remedial work to the colliery could take between three and six months, making a return to production subject to a further review, resulting in the possible immediate closure of the mine.<ref name="BBC-2013-02-25">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-21571790|title=Daw Mill coal mining may end after 'ferocious' fire|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=25 February 2013|accessdate=25 February 2013}}</ref>

==Closure==
On 14 March 2012 it was reported that UK Coal had begun a consultation process as part of plans for a company restructure which could see the closure of the mine in 2014.<ref name="ukcoalmay">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-17363969|work=BBC News |title=UK Coal 'may close Daw Mill colliery' |date=14 March 2012 |accessdate=14 March 2012}}</ref><ref name="ukcoallikely">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-19224234|work=BBC News |title=Daw Mill 'likely' to shut in 2014, says UK Coal |date=11 August 2012 |accessdate=10 March 2013}}</ref>

The [[Coal Authority]] stated in a 2012 report that if [[High Speed 2]] were to be built, then Daw Mill would be forced to close due to associated development and the effects on local groundworks.<ref name="hs2">{{cite news|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/hs2-could-mean-closure-daw-3021833|title=HS2 could mean closure of Daw Mill|work=Coventry Telegraph|date= 10 July 2012|accessdate=20 October 2018}}</ref>

On 7 March 2013 UK Coal announced the closure of the mine, due to the destructive fire which had extensively damaged it, with the plan to make most of the 650 staff redundant.<ref>{{cite news|title=Daw Mill: Hundreds of jobs go at fire-hit mine|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-21696875|accessdate=7 March 2013|work=BBC News|date=7 March 2013}}</ref>

==Land redevelopment plans==

In July 2013, the ownership of the Daw Mill site was transferred to property redevelopment firm Harworth Estates after UK Coal went into insolvency.<ref name="ITV-News-2014-11-04">{{cite news|url=http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2014-11-04/daw-mill-development-plans-could-bring-1-000-jobs/ |title=Daw Mill development plans could bring 1,000 jobs |work=ITV News Central |publisher=ITV |date=4 November 2014 |accessdate=1 November 2015}}</ref> Harworth subsequently submitted plans to [[North Warwickshire Borough Council]] to turn the land into a business park, which included proposals for an [[Large goods vehicle|HGV]] depot, but withdrew their application in October 2014 after encountering opposition from local residents and councillors, who felt the scheme would be unworkable. One of their key objections was the volume of traffic that would be generated in the local area. Harworth said they would submit a revised proposal.<ref>{{cite news |last=Merriman |first=Ryan |url=http://www.nuneaton-news.co.uk/Concerns-raised-Daw-site/story-22018762-detail/story.html |title=Concerns raised over Daw Mill site |newspaper=Nuneaton News |publisher=Local World |date=30 July 2014 |accessdate=1 November 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Chamberlain |first=Elise |url=http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/Plans-Daw-colliery-site-withdrawn/story-23194874-detail/story.html |title=Business park plans for Daw Mill colliery site are withdrawn |newspaper=Tamworth Herald |publisher=Local World |date=18 October 2014 |accessdate=1 November 2015 |archive-date=20 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020095039/http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/Plans-Daw-colliery-site-withdrawn/story-23194874-detail/story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> A fresh set of plans were put forward in November. These included a "low-level rail hub", and a one third reduction in the size of the development.<ref name="ITV-News-2014-11-04"/> The proposals were further refined, and a second revised application made in July 2015.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jenny |last=Waddington |url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/revamped-plans-daw-mill-colliery-9564212 |title=Revamped plans for Daw Mill Colliery are revealed |newspaper=Coventry Telegraph |publisher=Trinity Mirror |date=1 July 2015|accessdate=1 November 2015}}</ref>

Having initially objected to the proposals on the grounds of the size of the road network that would be needed to support the new development, the Highways Department of [[Warwickshire County Council]] announced in October 2015 that it would now support the development. The decision prompted local MP [[Craig Tracey]], whose [[North Warwickshire (UK Parliament constituency)|North Warwickshire]] constituency includes the site, to write to the Department urging it to reconsider its stance. His letter highlighted the potential impact the business park would have on the nearby town of [[Coleshill, Warwickshire|Coleshill]], which he said would be adversely affected by the increase in traffic flow.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/MP-slams-U-turn-Daw-application/story-28084785-detail/story.html |title=MP slams U-turn on Daw Mill application |newspaper=Tamworth Herald |publisher=Local World |date=30 October 2015 |accessdate=1 November 2015 |archive-date=31 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031162722/http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/MP-slams-U-turn-Daw-application/story-28084785-detail/story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Merriman |first=Ryan |url=http://www.nuneaton-news.co.uk/MP-slams-U-turn-Daw-plans/story-28079662-detail/story.html |title=MP slams U-turn on Daw Mill plans |newspaper=Nuneaton News |publisher=Local World |date=29 October 2015 |accessdate=1 November 2015 |archive-date=30 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030153449/http://www.nuneaton-news.co.uk/MP-slams-U-turn-Daw-plans/story-28079662-detail/story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> North Warwickshire Borough Council's planning committee unanimously rejected Harworth's proposals on 3 November, citing fears that the development would cause "substantial" harm to the local green belt. Harworth announced that it would appeal the decision.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jones |first=Tamlyn |url=http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/business/commercial-property/daw-mill-colliery-developer-appeal-10384520 |title=Daw Mill colliery developer to appeal council rejection |newspaper=Birmingham Post |publisher=Trinity Mirror |date=4 November 2015 |accessdate=5 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/Joy-Daw-plans-unanimously-rejected/story-28120187-detail/story.html |title=Joy as Daw Mill plans unanimously rejected |newspaper=Tamworth Herald |publisher=Local World |date=5 November 2015 |accessdate=5 November 2015 |archive-date=7 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107223621/http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/Joy-Daw-plans-unanimously-rejected/story-28120187-detail/story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Court of Appeal of England and Wales|Court of Appeal]] ruled in 2018 that there could be no further appeals and that the land must be restored to green field within the greenbelt.<ref>{{cite news |title=Final decision on future of Daw Mill colliery |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/daw-mill-colliery-decision-15182975 |work=CoventryLive |date=21 September 2018|accessdate=20 October 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Coventry Colliery]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090317013143/http://www.ukcoal.com/dm-daw-mill UK Coal profile of Daw Mill]
* [http://www.minersadvice.co.uk/dawmill.htm A Profile of Daw Mill Colliery]
* [http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/mines/Daw-mill_2378/Daw-mill.asp Daw Mill @ Mine-Explorer.co.uk]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071009005606/http://www.bara.org.uk/case%20studies/UK%20Coal%20Application%20Story.pdf Cutting edge information from deep underground], document about Daw Mill Colliery

{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|52|30|23|N|1|37|04|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}

[[Category:Coal mines in Warwickshire]]
[[Category:Underground mines in England]]
[[Category:Coal mining disasters in England]]
[[Category:History of Warwickshire]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2013 disestablishments in England]]

Daw Mill - Revision history

imported>Insignificanterror: Corrected typos - Haworth -> Harworth - as Harworth Group Plc.