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 had no option but to mothball the 179-year-old quarry, also known as Gloddfa Ganol and Ffestiniog.
Shocked workers were told on Tuesday that the exact number of job losses hasn’t been decided yet, and unions will be consulted.
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. It’s very disappointing for a community already devastated by job losses and job cuts.”
Welsh Slate managing director Alan Smith said it had 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 on the bench,” he said.
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 North Wales 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.
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 the Oakeley Quarry would be reviewed in the near future but he didn’t want to build up any hopes.
He added: “We deeply regret the mothballing of the quarry. The issues involved are beyond the control of the employees or the company.”
The Ffestiniog Railway wants to hear from staff laid off by Welsh Slate’s mothballing of the Oakeley Quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog. In the first instance, anyone interested in applying should contact Paul Lewin at or phone Harbour Station in Porthmadog on 01766 516000.
