In 1966, the mine was closed after the coal deposits seemed to be exhausted. The Grimebridge Colliery Co Ltd, led by miners William (Billy) Clayton and his business partner Rodney Mitchall, obtained a license to exploit Hill Top Colliery and opened the pit again. In the summer of 1997 two drifts were dug into the large seam between the previous tunnels and an open pit mine on the Heald Moor. The planning permission for the construction of the two new drifts was granted in August 1989. However, the start of construction was delayed, so that in 1997 an application for renewal of this permit was made and approved. In September 2005, a permit was granted for the continuation of mining until August 2011.Burnley Borough Council 12/11/0368: Variation of condition 1 of permission 12/04/0813 to allow continuation of coal mining and associated operations until 2 August 2018 at Hill Top Colliery, Sharneyford, Bacup. 19 October 2011.
