Potash firm emphasises benefits of £1bn plans

York Potash announced yesterday that an under-threat quarry in Pickering would not be mothballed if planning permission for the mine in the North York Moors National Park is given the go-ahead.

The company confirmed the quarry owned by CEMEX UK would be its preferred supplier for aggregates that would be used in the construction of the mine, earmarked for farmland at Sneaton near Whitby.

The contract would secure the immediate future of the quarry, safeguarding six jobs directly and more in the supply chain as CEMEX uses local hauliers and engineers. York Potash has already spent almost £6m on suppliers in Yorkshire, which is estimated to have supported an extra 23 jobs.

The firm’s external affairs director, Gareth Edmunds, said: “We’re committed to using local suppliers wherever possible and using local quarries not only benefits the local economy but also reduces the length of vehicle movements required. The construction of the mine alone would add around £55m to the local economy and this is just one example of how businesses in the area can benefit from the project.”

While the economic benefits would be huge, there are nonetheless major concerns over the proposed development’s environmental impact. The Yorkshire Post revealed on Friday that the Campaign for National Parks had urged Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles to hold a public inquiry after voicing concerns over the planning process.

The North York Moors National Park Authority is due to meet on July 29 to decide if planning permission should be granted for the mine, which would exploit one of the world’s most extensive seams of potash – a key component in fertiliser to boost crop yields.

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