FENCES to keep people away from an Inverkeithing quarry where two 18-year-olds lost their lives have been vandalised again. 

Cameron Lancaster drowned at Prestonhill Quarry in August 2014 and 10 months later, in June 2015, John McKay died at the same spot. 

Despite not owning the site, Fife Council has put up fences, but said they were being cut down “often as soon as the contractors have left”. 

Inverkeithing councillor Alice McGarry said it was “scandalous” the owners had done nothing to make the site safe and added: “It’s pointless trying to put the fencing back up. 

“This is the history of the quarry, as soon as we put it up, it gets cut. 

“All we want to do is make it safe for the unwary, so they don’t stumble over the cliffs and fall into the quarry. 

“But you’ll never stop people that are determined to go there. 

“I’ve seen the pictures and the damage is either side of a well-worn footpath so I think it’s people who have taken exception to being unable to walk there.

“They’re obviously prepared too as it looks like they’re using wire cutters.

“It’s frustrating but most people understand Fife Council can’t keep throwing good money after bad.” 

After the two deaths, the Press joined the campaign for action with a petition calling for the quarry to be drained and filled in backed by thousands of names. 

But the main stumbling block is the owners, Letham Bay Developments Ltd, who have done nothing to secure the site. 

The council said that “legal matters” were ongoing to get the firm to act.

Councillor McGarry said: “It’s scandalous that in the 21st century they can behave in this way and walk away from their responsibilities. It’s just not right. 

“They should be putting up and paying for safety fences at the quarry, not the council. They know who the company is and who the directors are, but they haven’t been able to get hold of them. 

“The council has also written letters to their home addresses and not had any response and it’s how you take it on from here.”

She continued: “There’s debt attached to the quarry and although the company is in default, the people that loaned the money haven’t called it in, presumably because they’d end up with it. 

“What do you do with a quarry if you don’t have the money to turn it into something?

“There’s interest from the divers and they have a business plan. If they were gifted the quarry that would be the best way forward, but not if it came with £2m of debt attached.”

Helen Doig, chairwoman of Inverkeithing Community Council, said: “We were greatly disappointed to learn of the damage done to the fencing at the top of Prestonhill Quarry. 

“The erection of fencing where there was none is a hugely important safety feature and will hopefully prevent people accidentally falling over the edge.

“We are also calling for the community to be vigilant and report suspicious activity to try to avoid another tragedy at this site.”

Fife Council’s Lynn Hoey added: “It looks as if the fence has been cut on opposite sides so that a short-cut could be taken through the site rather than walking around the perimeter. 

“We urge people to avoid using this area to think of the dangers of swimming or playing in quarries.”