Published: Thursday, 2nd July, 2009 8:40am

Mine bosses reassure MP

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THE operators of the opencast mine at Crossgates have moved to reassure residents over a number of concerns raised about its Muirdean operation.

ATH Resources group operations director Alistair Black has written to Dunfermline and West Fife MP Willie Rennie outlining the latest developments and action taken in light of concerns raised.

Mr Rennie had recently carried out a survey in Crossgates and subsequently put the issues highlighted to ATH, which included flooding at Muirdean, provision of a restoration bond and the mine"s overburden tip.

Mr Black explained that, contrary to reports in the financial media, the site had not flooded and that the groundwater levels were expected to be lowered sufficiently in coming months.

He wrote, 'The company decided to defer payment of the interim divided payment as a precautionary measure due to our inability to drop the groundwater levels ahead of our anticipated production rate.'

Mr Black stated that an initial restoration bond was also in place and that a figure for the maximum bond has been agreed with Fife Council and the independent compliance assessor.

ATH are currently in the process of formalising the provision of the maximum bond, which is expected to be in place in the next few weeks.

He said that the overburden mound had now reached its maximum height and that the sides of the mound were being shaped and covered with suitable material to allow grass to be seeded this autumn.

He added that an incident involving an overturned coal lorry was the only haulage-related incident from the Muirdean site to date. No-one was injured and no apparent traffic offence was committed, while the police decided no further action was necessary.

Mr Rennie said ATH"s reassurances were 'very welcome'.

He said, 'The assurances on the lorry and restoration bond are extremely helpful but the flooding is a major concern.

'I went down into the mine a few weeks back and I saw the water – but I was told they had discovered the water but didn"t indicate it was a major problem.

'Then I find out that they had held back the dividend for shareholders, which suggested it was a bit more serious than it was made out to be.

'I don"t want to be kept in the dark again about that one. They have given the assurance that it will not affect the site but I will be looking for a regular update and the report when they release the dividends to shareholders.'

Mr Rennie welcomed especially the developments on the overburden.

He said, 'You can see it from miles around and I feared that it was going to be left like that.

'But we"ve been told it"s been grassed over and that will be a huge relief, not just to Crossgates but people in Dunfermline and West Fife. It will reduce the impact. I"m going to watch them like a hawk to see that they deliver what they promised and accommodate the local community during the time they are there.'