Plans did exist to turn the Bentinck Colliery in Kirby in the Midlands into a landfill site, but a 13 year campaign of opposition saw Nottinghamshire County Council dismiss the scheme.
The site, which is 3 kilometres south-west of Kirby-in-Ashfield, was then last summer given SSSI status by Natural England.
Bentinck Colliery, also known as Bentinck Void, is considered the best breeding site in Nottinghamshire for the endangered great crested newts and is also an important breeding ground for smooth newts, common frogs and common toads.
The east Midlands has very few breeding amphibians and they are not represented as features of special interest in any other SSSI in the East Midlands, making the site entirely unique in the region.
Viridor, who bought the site as part of the acquisition of Terry Adams Ltd in 1997, announced this week it would be working with Nottinghamshire County Council and Natural England, on the restoration.
Viridor’s planning manager, Ian John, said: “Viridor is keen to work alongside Nottinghamshire County Council and Natural England to ensure the sustainable restoration of the Bentinck site is achieved.”
The site is also jointly owned by Broomco.
Luke Walsh