[Shasown]

Originally Posted by cupid stunt

thatcher ****ed this country up 2 rass, none of the mining areas ave recovered since the 80s, she deserves everything wot she gets mate

Please lad dont show your ignorance. I started my working life in a mine in the North East. I was lucky to get an apprenticeship there. Previously just about all school leavers were taken on into the mines, when I left school 2 of us were taken on. I left school in 1978.

The British Coal Industry was on its knees as it was when Maggie came into power, the miners strike of 1982 simply put the final nail into the coffin. British Coal had made itself a reputation of not being able to fulfill orders. Plus lots of seams were worked out. There are still seams under the area but they are/were economically unviable.

However mines had been closing since the early 60's. I worked in the North Durham area, in 1960 there were 11 mines in that area. here is this full list and the years they closed as seams became unviable. Its verifiable at the Durham mining museum website. http://www.dmm.org.uk

Boldon 1982
Harton and Westoe 1969
Hebburn 1963
Heworth 1963
Hylton 1979
Ryhope 1966
Washington F 1968
Washington Glebe 1972
Washington Usworth 1974
Wearmouth 1993
Whitburn/Marsden 1968

As you can see there was only one mine closed during the time Maggie was in power (1979-1990). Hylton went into close down before she was elected. And if you go to the various mining websites around the country you will see the same story.

If you want someone to blame, then the name you want is Scargill, he pushed for all mines to remain open etc, it was never going to happen. The country couldnt afford to keep mines open simply so that men could sit about and earn good money doing nothing.

When he pulled miners out on strike, he also sent pickets to prevent maintenance and safety work being carried out on the mines that could have stayed open afterwards. In a lot of cases the lack of drainage and other essential maintenance meant that the mines werent safe to work when the strike ended. The cost to bring them back into operation wasnt worth it, so they went into close down. Boldon was one like that.

[letmein]

The majority of people on this site are too young to remember Thatcher. Most weren't even born. She was the very definition of evil.

[Angus]

Originally Posted by letmein

The majority of people on this site are too young to remember Thatcher. Most weren't even born. She was the very definition of evil.

Care to elaborate as to WHY instead of just throwing out a little soundbite?