HOW many more have to die before action is taken at Prestonhill Quarry? The Press has joined the campaign for action after the latest tragedy on Thursday, when 18-year-old John McKay (pictured) drowned at the disused site.

An online petition calling for the quarry to be drained and filled in was launched that very night – and has gathered more than 2400 names, as well as nearly 4800 likes on Facebook.

The heartbreaking tragedy occurred just 10 months after Cameron Lancaster, also 18, drowned there while carrying out an ‘ice bucket challenge’ in August 2014.

There have also been near-misses: in 2010, the Press told you how Dalgety Bay teen Harry Hewitt was “very lucky to be alive” after falling around 30 feet off the quarry’s sheer cliff face.

Harry, then 14, was scrambling up the quarry but slipped when the rock gave way, falling onto a massive boulder and damaging his spine – but walked away with a few squashed vertebrae, graze marks and stiffness across his back.

The petition, ‘Drain and Fill in Inverkeithing Quarry’ stated, “Another young boy has lost his life in the quarry’s waters. It’s about time further action should be taken to stop any more lives being lost. Other action could be taken to keep people out, such as stronger fencing and railings, but raising awareness through schools about the dangers of diving into water would ultimately be the best course.” Inverkeithing councillor Alice McGarry will also meet today (Friday) with the police, fire service, Fife Council’s environment and protection services and councillors to discuss how to progress on the quarry.

She will also meet MSP Annabelle Ewing to discuss using the new Community Empowerment Act to take over the privately-owned quarry and make it safe.

Cllr McGarry told the Press, “We’re looking at the community taking it over and deciding what to do about it. As it stands, it’s worthless and we’re unable to move forward on it because it’s privatelyowned, and unless they’re compelled to do something, it’s difficult to see what action could be taken against them. What we really need now is for folk to come forward and support a campaign – people are interested in it and the safety aspect but how do you make it safe?

“Some people want to see the quarry water level lowered to a reasonable level, others want to see it remain an underwater training centre, and some want it filled it – but the key is ownership.” Asked how feasible the options were, Cllr McGarry cited examples of quarries which had been remediated – but said it was difficult to keep people out in the meantime.

However, she reiterated, “The question is ownership and money. There are no cheap options.

“Even to fence it off costs money – the option the council has is to fence it off and claim it back from the owners.

“But that’s not the best option. The fencing at the top needs to be replaced, there are dogs and children that can get in there.

“It’s also been cut with wire cutters because people are determined to get in. I’m absolutely raging because the council put up a safety fence either on Sunday or early Monday and on Tuesday it had been smashed down beyond repair.” Fife Council confirmed that the owners are responsible for safety on the site but there appears to be confusion over who owns it.

Roy Stewart, senior manager, protective services, said, “This has been a terrible tragedy and our thoughts and condolences are with the victim’s family and friends.

“The quarry is a popular location locally but, as with any such location, it carries risks and hazards, and care should always be taken around cliff edges and deep water. The council shares concerns around the safety of users of the area and recently served notice on the company understood to be the owners of the site.

“This notice required that appropriate signage and fencing be put up and maintained at the quarry site alerting people to potential dangers.

“This notice has subsequently been returned to us from the occupiers of the registered office address and we are now taking legal advice to take forward further efforts to identify the site owners and make sure they take the responsibility for this issue.”