British Fluorspar

[waggie]

Just heard that All staff have been made redundant at British Fluorspar. Both Mill and Mine. Sure an update will be made within a day or two.

 

[AR]

Not good, both for the staff laid off and the prospect of fixing up the damage done at Silence Mine by subsidence.

 

[nickwilliams]

My understanding is that not everyone has been laid off. I have a meeting with them tomorrow and will provide an update when I am sure of my facts.

 

[AR]

That would be good Nick; the other big concern I and others have about BF going under is securing preservation of their archives, given that it's not only got Glebe's records but also material they inherited from the companies working spar in the first half of the 20th century.

 

[Stoney Boy]

End of an era....Didn't take long from.closure to getting rid of the plant.

Pretty sad if you ask me.

 

[AR]

It's my understanding that both the mine and mill are going onto care and maintenance rather than outright closure, but in the current climate that may change. Looks like there's a bit of discarded conveyor belt in need of a new home on the lower right...

 

[bograt]

Isn't Sallet Hole still under "care and management", ha, ha.........

 

[pwhole]

So has anyone actually given an official reason for the closure yet?? It can't be due to a lack of fluorite down there, after all.

 

[tomferry]

Isn't Sallet Hole still under "care and management", ha, ha.........

If so it certainly needs care !

 

[mikem]

Brexit & covid can't have helped: "British Fluorspar is the last hard rock mining company in the polymetallic hydrothermal vein systems in the Peak District National Park to produce Fluorspar, Barytes and Lead for mainly supply across Europe...." or

Notices served - Enforcement notices public

This site provides the detail of HSE prosecutions resulting in a successful conviction within the last 5 years.

resources.hse.gov.uk

 

[AR]

They're also under a lot of pressure to deal with the collapses around Silence Mine, which have raised safety concerns over the cottage above the site on the Bretton Road.

 

[waggie]

Well that's the log washer and crusher gone by the looks of it. Most people are putting it down to the Peak Park

 

[waggie]

 

[BikinGlynn]

View attachment 17039

damn missed them, could of been a decent explore that

 

[nickwilliams]

The official line its that they have stopped mining because it wasn't making any money, and they need to focus on making a 'section 73' application. This is basically a request to vary the planning consent which they already have so that it better reflects the way they are actually operating.

As Chairman of the Parish Council for the village where the mine is located, I am in regular contact with both the Mine's management and the PDNPA. This is not an appropriate forum in which to go into detail but suffice it to say that to characterise the closure as being all the fault of the Peak Park Authority is not accurate, by quite a long way.

 

[AR]

I'll second Nick on that - there's plenty to criticise about PDNPA's conduct in recent times but I would challenge anyone blaming them for this to come up with real evidence the Park's actions were responsible...

 

[Tim Pickering]

Is it not more likely that since Germany has pledged to become less reliant on China and Turkeys supply, that Fluorsid might concentrate their efforts there? We have certainly complicated matters when it comes to trade agreements, so perhaps keeping British Fluorspar operational just wasn't in the financial interests of Fluorsid? All supposition, of course. I'm no expert in these matters.

 

[pwhole]

Well seeing as it's all been knocked down now, here's a few fairly average shots of some of the interior plant, taken on an official PDMHS visit in - jeez, 2012. They're just lit with onboard flash in what was a fairly dark environment, so not great, and only show a few items. I regret not taking any of the froth flotation tables in action, as they were amazing - or maybe we weren't allowed to - I can't remember! Maybe someone can advise...

 

[waggie]

All I will say is the peak park has a lot to answer for when it comes to industry in the local area closing down. What are we all to do sell ice creams to tourists!

 

[Stoney Boy]

No disrespect Nick but a lot of local people don't understand why it has closed.

Zero comms from BFL.