One of the first tasks completed on site was the removal and relocation of the resident newt population from the operational areas of the site.  A catch and release programme was implemented to safely trap the resident newts and to release them into newly constructed habitats away from the site.  Both the newly created homes for the newts and the site are protected with newt fencing to prevent the escape of the newts from their new habitat onto the operational body of the site.

Simultaneous to the newt works was to securely fence the site and the water treatment areas.  A new road crossing over the 'Bogey Road', referred to as Crossing Point X, was constructed.  This traffic light controlled crossing point allows the safe movement of Miller Argent vehicles across the 'Bogey Road'.

Areas containing topsoil and subsoils have been stripped using mechanical shovels and dump trucks, assisted by low ground pressure dozers. These soil dumps then act as acoustic barriers and are grassed over to protect the structure of the soils and as a visual benefit. Tree planting may also be carried out in strategic locations.

The soils stored in temporary dumps will be used later in the final phases of the project's restoration. 

The excavation of the material above has been completed in the first phase of the works enabling the coal seams to be exposed and removed.  Material between the coal seams (overburden) is removed from the working void and stored above ground in overburden dumps.  Two have been created to the north of the 'Bogey Road' and a third will be constructed to the south of the 'Bogey Road'.

To facilitate the construction of the southern overburden dump, Miller Argent have realigned the 'Bogey Road' and constructed a temporary bridge to enable the dump trucks to pass under the public highway to access the southern overburden dump area from the main body of the site.

Other works undertaken as part of the enabling works include the construction of two maintenance facilities - one to allow the on site maintenance of the fleet of overburden dump trucks and excavators, and the second to maintain the the coal haulage trucks.

A training facility has also been provided to enable the on site training of both Miller Argent operatives and external users.  The range of equipment will extend from small construction plant through to the machinery used in the main site operations.