Published: Thursday, 4th December, 2008 15:25
Anger as new Dunfermline opencast site gets the go-ahead
By Ally McRoberts
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Pic by: Dunfermline Press
FIFE councillors were branded “cowards” after a controversial application for an opencast coal site between Oakley and Saline was approved.
Local residents accused the council of running scared of refusing UK Coal’s plan in case it was overturned by the Scottish Government in a costly appeal.
The company now has permission to extract 750,000 tonnes of coal on a 92- hectare site to the north of Blair Farm, next to the tiny settlements of Cowstrandburn and Upper Kinneddar.
An argument that it would “seriously affect” the health of a sick girl who lives close to the site was also set aside in a heated debate on Wednesday.
The last opencast application in West Fife covered the Muirdean site, near Crossgates, and this was knocked back initially by the council but was approved a year ago on appeal.
And at the South West Fife area committee, chair Alice McGarry said, “I know this from very bitter experience that if we do not have reasonable grounds for refusal they will go to an appeal and they will win and it will cost the council a lot of money.”
But a Cowstrandburn resident, who asked not to be named, blasted after the meeting, “They are cowards.
“They’ve been kicked before by the Government over an opencast and were obviously very wary of going down that route again.
“There’s also the very real case of that child and her health. It’s up to the parents what happens next – but it’s a major concern.
“The whole thing smacks of a flag of convenience as if they hadn’t decided Cowstrandburn wasn’t a community then this plan wouldn’t have been viable as there would be a community within 500 yards of the site.”
And he fumed, “As for the community fund, the people who will bear the brunt of this mine at Upper Kinneddar and Cowstrandburn won’t benefit at all.
“There are no community buildings or facilities to spend money on in either of these communities.”
The ill health of the child – who has not been named – was raised by Councillor Gerry McMullan, who said, “There’s a case of a young girl who lives within 500 metres of the site and whose health will be seriously affected by this.
“It’s unacceptable we have all these details to look at transportation and the environmental impact but what about the health and welfare of the residents?
“Regarding the installation of the dust monitors, that will mean absolutely diddly squat in my opinion.”
Councillor Douglas Chapman said he was concerned about a “general loss of amenity in the area” and added, “It’s ripping up hectares of land over a short period of time.
"I don’t see the benefit locally for fairly small economic benefit.”
But Mrs McGarry responded, “The site visit would really have helped you as most of the land up there is inaccessible to the public.
“Having seen some of the death traps up there – we almost lost one of the party in a swamp – I think the site would only be made safer by this application.”
She added, “Opencast is a very emotional subject. I’ve been involved in applications before and you’re pulled in all ways.
“The site visit was, for me, very useful.
“I can’t see any strong reasons for refusal as the difficulties can be mitigated through conditions.
“I think the company will stick to the conditions and if they don’t they will be held to account.
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