Monument suggested to mark history on Hunter Street, Workington

The Coal Authority began work to demolish the street in Workington last year.

The organisation purchased the seven homes from residents after the abandoned shaft was discovered in 2018 causing the properties to be unsafe.

DISCUSS: Mark Jenkinson MP and Mick Owen met at the site last week to discuss the future

Mark Jenkinson MP for Workington constituency said :"Hunter Street is part of our rich history here in Workington and its demolition a reminder of a town built on coal.

"I will be liaising further with residents in the coming months to ascertain their wishes for the future of the site, but alongside whatever that looks like I would like to see something to commemorate that history.

"A memorial outlining the history of the mine along with a visualisation of the street that has been demolished would provide a fitting tribute to the generations that lived on the site, but also that contributed so much to our coal-mining heritage.

"We need to celebrate our local history and ensure that it is preserved for future generations in our area.

PROBLEM: The team are now filling the mine shaft

"We also need to ensure that there is something on the site so that it doesn’t become untidy or a magnet for antisocial behaviour."

All residents who lived on the road found agreements with the Coal Authority and have moved homes, after a public meeting was held on the issue in early 2020.

Mick Owens, Head of Public Safety and Subsidence at the Coal Authority, said: “The work to fill the mine shaft discovered on Hunter Street, Workington has been progressing well and the stabilisation of the mine shaft has been completed.

"We are now working on the stabilisation of the ground immediately around the mineshaft. Once this remediation work has been completed there will be a period of monitoring of the ground for approximately six months, to ensure our work has been successful.

PROGRESS: The houses have now been demolished and work is being done to make the area safe

"The surrounding land will be stoned, levelled and securely fenced during the monitoring phase and it will eventually be tarmacked on the surface before the land is brought back into use.

"There are no firm plans at this stage for the future use of the site, however, we are in discussions with Allerdale Borough Council and the local MP on suitable ideas and are happy to work with them and the local community to agree the best solution.

The authority thanked the community for their support.