Today one of the most famous co-operatives closes. The Tower Colliery was purchased by the workers in 1985, in times when the Thatcher Government had a policy of closing the coal industry.The coal has run out at Tower but there is still plenty left in Britain. Coal has been making a comeback as a power fuel due to its cheaper price but most of it is being imported. New coal fired power stations have been commissioned, the first since 1974. There are bigger issues of Clean Coal Technology and carbon dioxide emissions though.
"This island is made mainly of coal and surrounded by fish. Only an organising genius could produce a shortage of coal and fish at the same time." - Aneurin Bevan MP circa 1947 - not so sure about the fish anymore.
