3 NOVEMBER 1984, Page 19

Uneconomic geology

Sir: One point in Mr Heathfield's letter would appear to be potentially very signifi- cant. He writes that Rockingham Colliery was closed, with the agreement of Mr Scargill and the NUM, on geological grounds. What, precisely, does Mr Heath- field mean by this? Does he really mean that every last ton of coal had been extracted from this mine? If not, it would seem that the words 'grounds of geology' are simply another way of saying 'grounds of economy', and as such might provide the answer to the whole problem of pit clo- sures, the former expression obviously being acceptable where the latter is not.

Might some clarification of this point be forthcoming?

Sarah Whittall

19 Orford Avenue, Disley, Stockport, Cheshire