This photo looks quite picturesque from this angle, but the truth is, it sits only yards away from the local landfill site. Planning permission was rushed through on this site to escape the new statute for installing a leak proof membrane beneath the site. the consequence of this is that the mines beneath filled with methane and they were burning it off for years untill someone built a plant for using it to heat the on site offices. The methane still leaks into the surrounding mines making them potentialy dangerous, more from lack of oxygen than fire risk. Whiteworks is a classic example, and Wheal Brittania is now lethal.
This photograph is by Roy Morton and was uploaded March 20th 2008. © Roy Morton please do not copy or distribute without prior express permission.
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