Blaenau jobs blow as quarry shuts

Mar 18 2010 by Hywel Trewyn, North Wales Weekly News

WHAT was once the world’s largest slate mine is to shut – because it’s in danger of collapsing.

Cracks were spotted in the surface of the historic Oakeley Quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and bosses at Welsh Slate decided to shut it immediately to protect workers’ safety.

It means up to 30 of the site’s 55 staff will lose their jobs in six weeks time, and another 25 to 30 will be offered jobs at Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda, which is owned by the same company.

Geologists were called in after significant cracks emerged on the surface of the site two weeks ago, and found they were caused by subsidence in mine chambers.

Bosses say they had no option but to mothball the 179-year-old quarry, also known as Gloddfa Ganol and Ffestiniog.

Shocked workers were told on Tuesday the exact number of job losses hasn’t been decided yet, and unions will be consulted.

The announcement came within hours of confirmation that a bid to upgrade the Conwy Valley railway line between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno Junction to carry aggregates and slate waste had been unsuccessful.

Unite union official Paddy McNaught said: “We will be looking at the company to protect some of the jobs by moving them to Bethesda or relocating to Cwt-y-Bugail quarry, Blaenau.

“It will be an end of an era at that particular quarry (Oakeley). It’s very disappointing and devastating for a community that has already been devastated by job losses and job cuts.”

Welsh Slate managing director Alan Smith said it had simply become too dangerous to keep mining the slate.

“The Oakeley is underneath older workings where in 1880 there was a significant fall when some of the waste slate fell onto the chamber below. Two weeks ago we spotted cracking.”

He added the closure was purely a safety decision, and nothing to do with a massive fraud carried out by three former Welsh Slate bosses who inflated sales figures with more than £10m of false orders.

The fraud delivered a £40m blow to then parent company Alfred McAlpine’s profits, saw its share value plummet and led to the loss of 136 jobs at its three quarries in Bethesda, Blaenau Ffestiniog and the Nantlle Valley.

The Health and Safety Executive said the decision to close Oakeley was taken by Welsh Slate and not by them, although they had been informed.

Mr Smith added: “Following investigations it was concluded there was an unacceptable level of risk to personnel.

“We have therefore decided to mothball activities in the quarry, and roofing production will cease at the end of April.”

No other operations or staff levels at Welsh Slate are affected. Current orders will be unaffected and customers will have the option of buying slate products from the company’s other quarries – Cwt-y-Bugail, Pen yr Orsedd, Dyffryn Nantlle and Penrhyn.

Mr Smith said options for reopening Oakeley Quarry would be reviewed in the near future but he didn’t want to build up hopes.

Elfyn Llwyd, Meirionnydd Nant Conwy MP, said: “It is very sad indeed. This is not just about the closure of the quarry, it’s a blow to the town, and the history of the town.

“The local brass band is known as the Oakeley band and it grieves me to see this happen.”