Consultation Begins Over Boulby Planning Application

ICL Boulby has today announced details of a public consultation programme in advance of it submitting an application to the North York Moors Park Authority for permission to continue mining operations for a further 25 years.

The current planning permission which has been in place since 1968 expires in 2023 and ICL Boulby’s General Manager Andrew Fulton today stressed that seeking renewed permission underlined the commitment to securing its long-term future and strengthening its position as the world’s first and only producer of polyhalite.

This round of  pre-application consultation programme, which ends on 30 October, will involve meetings with local councils, businesses and community groups, together with a series of exhibition roadshows at local villages taking place in October.

Explains Mr Fulton “Following our successful move to polyhalite production, the planning application is the next phase in our ‘Building Boulby’s Future’ strategy which aims to drive forward an increase in our production to a target of 1.3million tonnes per year by 2023, securing over 500 jobs and ensuring that we continue to make a major contribution to the economy of East Cleveland and the wider area.

“Already, with the support from our parent company ICL, we have invested over £30million in delivering the transition to polyhalite and our products—marketed as Polysulphate—are now helping farmers and grower to increase growth and yields in countries across five continents..

“We hope as many people as possible will take the opportunity to come along to the public exhibitions to find our more about what we have achieved already in becoming the world’s first and only polyhalite mine and how our plans can secure its future.”

The exhibition will help visitors understand the background to the mine and outline improvements to above and below ground operations.

Consultation exhibition locations and dates are:

October 1, Hinderwell Village Hall, 2pm-8pm

October 2, Mulgrave Community Sports Centre, 2pm-8pm

October 4, Loftus Town Hall, 2pm-8pm

October 9, Staithes Village Hall, 2pm-8pm

October 10, Skinningrove Village Hall, 2pm-8pm

October 12, Skelton Civic Centre, 9am-2pm

October 15, Mickleby Village Hall, 2pm-8pm

October 26, Marske Leisure Centre, 9am-2pm