PROMISES to restore the St Ninian’s opencast mine in Kelty for the benefit of local residents have been forgotten, says the local community council.

A land art project previously described as “one of the most exciting public art projects Scotland has ever seen” was planned for the site next to the M90 however villagers now fear they won’t even get cycle tracks or paths to walk their dogs.

The multi-million pound restoration plans centred on turning the area into a major tourist attraction which would bring visitors and money into the village.

World renowned American architect Charles Jencks designed the Fife Earth Project and work started but it was left unfinished when Scottish Coal went bust in 2013.

Hargreaves took on the site and the restoration, although not to the original ambitious design. 

This week, Kelty Community Council’s planning convener, Gary Hutchison, said he submitted a freedom of information request to Fife Council in his efforts to clarify the site’s situation.

“Hargreaves on numerous occasions presented to the community council that at a minimum the site would be restored to a level that it could be accessible to the general public,” he explained.

“During a visit on-site, we were shown where roads and car parks would be for public access. The idea was that this site could be used for recreational use whilst Hargreaves found investors to develop the site.”

Mr Hutchison said that Fife Council have informed him there was no agreement with them to provide roads, paths or car parks. 

“As far as they are concerned the site is complete barring a few trees to be planted. Whether it is opened to the public is up to Hargreaves as they own the site.

“It is disappointing to say the the least that after years of putting up with an eyesore of opencast mining and the heavy traffic it brought, there is going to be no benefit to local communities. 

“Promises were made by Fife Council and Hargreaves which are being forgotten and we are not even going to have a site for recreation. It is a warning to other communities with opencast mining on their door step.”

Hargreaves’ property director, Iain Slater, said they still planned to allow community access.

“There had been interest in the site from a film studio however that fell through around six months ago,” he explained. “We have been working very hard with Fife because we have put the site up for a leisure opportunity – we have been working to promote the site and will be looking to do more in September.

"We have the master plan and are trying to follow that but it will take a bit of time. There are cycle paths and some car parks down there but it is a health and safety thing that the mine needs time to settle down before we can let people in.”

Fife Council’s Mary Stewart said the council have never owned the site nor had any intention to acquire it and run it as a public park.

“The Fife Earth Project was linked to the previous owners of the mine, Scottish Coal, and unfortunately it was not possible to progress with the original restoration scheme designed by Charles Jencks,” she explained. 

“The site has been fully restored with the exception of a small amount of tree planting. These have been held in abeyance whilst work continues with Hargreaves – as the owner of the site – to secure a use for the site which is in line with the original vision of a leisure and recreation resource.”