A CONTROVERSIAL plan to drain Loch Fitty, near Kingseat, for the extraction of coal will not go ahead. 

Fife Council confirmed there was no prospect of the scheme being revived following the demise of Scottish Coal. 

They also stated no more coal will be taken from the St Ninians mine at Kelty and they've got £7 million to help restore the Muirdean mine at Crossgates. 

Hargreaves took over St Ninians after Scottish Coal was liquidated in 2013 and a council report stated: "Coaling is complete and restoration is almost fully complete, with only a limited amount of tree-planting still to be carried out. 

"Previous plans to extend the site through draining the adjacent Loch Fitty in order to extract coal and effect a permanent rehabilitation of the loch in terms of water quality, by removing the source of contaminated minewater, will not now proceed due to the collapse of the coal market."

In recent years, the industry has been decimated by plummeting prices and as operating companies went to the wall, there was considerable concern that opencast mines in Fife would be abandoned. 

Fife Council has had greater success than some other Scottish councils in ensuring bonds were in place to restore sites and an update was given to councillors earlier this month. 

While the chances of the Loch Fitty plan being revived were remote, the confirmation from the council will be welcome to local residents. 

Despite considerable opposition, Scottish Coal received planning permission in 2011 to drain the loch and extract 3.4 million tonnes of coal. 

The plan was to extend operations at the St Ninians site and, after six years, restore Loch Fitty to a "higher standard". 

Kingseat Community Council asked the Scottish Government to intervene but the collapse of Scottish Coal meant the plans did not go ahead. 

ATH Resources, which operated the Muirdean mine in Crossgates, also went into liquidation in 2013. 

Hargreaves took over this site too and progress has been made with a major area around Annfield already restored. 

The council report said: "Following the earlier than planned cessation of coaling on site, due to the closure of Longannet Power Station and the economic conditions related to the market price for coal, good progress is being made on the restoration of site generally. 

"The site now has a properly engineered minewater treatment facility to deal with the long-standing issue of contaminated water from the Fordell Day Level. 

"All restoration works to date have been at operator’s expense, funded by coaling on the site – Fife Council still has the restoration bond money (circa £7 million) available to complete the restoration."

It added that a final restoration plan has been agreed between the council, Hargreaves, SEPA and the Coal Authority and will be regulated under the terms of an enforcement notice served to ensure the site is fully restored.