Rossington Colliery restoration plan to create 70 jobs

Rossington Colliery closed in 2007

Dozens of jobs are to be created after plans for a coal recovery and restoration scheme at a former colliery in South Yorkshire were approved.

Recycoal has been given planning permission by Doncaster Council to clean up 13m tonnes of colliery spoil at the old Rossington Colliery.

The firm said it also planned to recover 950,000 tonnes of coal for electricity generation.

It will then restore the land to open space within five years.

The company said a variety of natural habitats would be created on the 112 hectare (277 acre) site, including woodland areas and grasslands.

The restored site will also include a memorial garden, allotments, footpaths and bridleways.

Chief executive officer Tom Allchurch, said the scheme would "significantly enhance the local environment".

"The use of Rossington as a base for training new employees will bring further opportunities to the local economy, in addition to the 70 jobs created by the land restoration project," he said.