By Julie Morgan

Last updated at 11:39, Thursday, 13 September 2012

FUTURE capping of mine shafts across Egremont and Cleator Moor could cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds, councillors were warned.

Work on unearthed shafts at council land at Egremont’s Howbank Road and Chapel Street has already cost around £450,000 in the past three years.

Now, Copeland’s leader, Coun Elaine Woodburn, is calling upon the Government to meet the liabilities of any mine shafts that become exposed in the future across the two towns.

She explained to councillors at a meeting of Copeland’s Full Council there wasn’t a “definitive’’ map pinpointing the area’s mine shafts.

“The problem with the iron ore mines is that no-one takes any responsibility for them,’’ Coun Woodburn said.

“Someone made a lot of money from those iron ore mines and then simply filled them with trees.

“We’ve had our funding dramatically cut so we won’t be able to afford to cap them all. We need Government help.”

First published at 11:10, Thursday, 13 September 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk