Ironic certainly.
However, mining is a business like any other - it lives or dies by it's
ability to produce what is required, when it is required and at a price the
market is willing to pay. when the price of tin crashed in the mid 80s did
the government not bail out (pardon the pun) Wheal Jane and South Crofty -
even that wasn't enough to keep the industry going for long. Looking back
perhaps that money could have been better invested in education, health
services, tourism, fishing and agriculture? This new money might have kept
the pumps going for a few years but Geevor closed over 15 years ago - how
long do you keep pumping (sorry - another pun) in money with no forseeable
way to running at a profit?
What is possibly more ironic is that with todays tin (and copper)prices, the
£3.8m for Geevor and the millions 'gifted' elsewhere in Cornwall/West Devon
could be used to help regenerate a real mining industry and provide a secure
future for many more generations of cornishmen and women.
With modern ore recovery technology, a bit of investment and some ballsey
decisions by local and central government, this is not so far fetched.
It won't happen of course - the world seems determined to turn our mining
industry into a nature trail (or a bmx track so disadvantaged kids can get
closer to their mining heritage).
Isn't irony ironic.
Er.....quite
Lee
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