THE FORMER Hemingfield Colliery could be developed into a museum and visitor centre with a mining enthusiast keen to take over the site.

Hampshire-based Steve Grudgings, 60, is the man behind the potential investment of the pit building on Wath Road.

 

Steve sees the site becoming an attraction to both local people and others interested in mining history.

He intends to stump up to buy the pit, and then hand it over to the Friends of Hemingfield Colliery, with the group paying him back over time.

The site is currently in the hands of receivers BDO Stoy Hayward after UK Coal went into liquidation but Steve says the sale is close to being completed.

The group has been quoted an initial £160,000 to restore one of the buildings into a visitor centre and once up and running Steve would like local people to get involved with the day to day running.

 

** The full story appears in today's Barnsley Chronicle. **