Progress hope for memorial

A long-awaited memorial to miners who worked at Ollerton pit could be in place by the end of summer.

The news came just days after the 16th anniversary of the announcement that the pit was to close.

Plans are being drawn up for a £12,000 memorial incorporating the pit wheel, a miner’s lamp, a bench and information on the history of the pit.

The preferred location, subject to planning permission, is on vacant land on the former pit lane next to Tesco roundabout.

A previous memorial costing up to £60,000 of five life-size miners carved in stone was considered too expensive and there were highways concerns over putting the memorial on the roundabout.

The town mayor, Mr Jason Ferguson, said: “Hopefully we will bring this to a conclusion. It has gone on too long. It will stay on the agenda until it is dealt with.”

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