Consultation over Boulby Potash extension

Cleveland Potash Limited has today announced plans to begin a major public information and consultation programme in preparation for seeking from the North York Moors Park Authority an extension in its planning permission.

Beginning early next month, the Community Engagement programme will include over 100 events running over four months, including an exhibition across 20 venues, public meetings, consultation with 16 Parish and Town Councils, and meetings with a range of key organisations.

The current planning permission for operations at the Boulby Mine, which has been in place since 1968, expires in 2023 and Cleveland Potash Managing Director Marc Kirsten says it is vital that as many people as possible are consulted during the application to continue mining into the future.

He explains “Informing, listening to and taking into account the views of the community is an important element in the planning process, especially when Boulby plays such an important role in the area’s economic wellbeing.

“The Community Engagement programme we are developing in discussion with the Park Authority will aim to set out the history of the mine, how we operate now and how we aim to move forward in securing its future.

“Boulby is unique in the UK as a producer of potash and is the only site in the world mining the mineral polyhalite, marketed as Polysulphate, which provides a multi-mineral fertiliser for the global farming industry. In addition, we are a major producer of salt, which has a variety of uses, including providing much of the road salt used on the country’s highways network.

“We have been—and remain—East Cleveland’s largest employer and the decision to seek permission for continuing operations demonstrates our commitment to maintain a significant contribution to the local community and economy.”

Details of the exhibitions and meetings, which will stretch from Redcar to Whitby, the Esk Valley up to Castleton and Danby, all of East Cleveland and Guisborough, will be announced shortly. A questionnaire, seeking people’s views on extending the future of the mine, will be available at all the events—and also online.