Work has ground to a halt at Blair House opencast mine which was fiercely opposed by many in the West Fife villages.

However, it is economic difficulties that have resulted in the 92-acre site near Oakley being mothballed, not opposition from local people and environmentalists.

Villagers are unhappy that the enormous earth mounds will remain in place and concerned that the site will not eventually be returned to its original state.

MSP Bill Walker is also concerned at recent developments. He said, "I was against the site going ahead when I was a councillor but it got planning permission.

"We've had all the problems with the loss of a local resource, the mud on the roads, the heavy traffic and now work's stopped altogether. It's not an acceptable state of affairs." Mr Walker has been in touch with Scottish Resources Group, parent company of Scottish Coal, to find out what is happening at the site.

Colin Ortlepp, planning director, wrote back, "For the avoidance of doubt and speculation the site has been mothballed in anticipation of a future restart and not with permanent closure in mind.

"As was explained at the last liaison committee, the decision to mothball the site has not been taken lightly, especially as it has had significant implications for our workforce.

"However, we are committed to reviewing the position on a regular basis and will keep the council, the liaison committee and others updated on the situation.

"The rationale for mothballing of the Blair House site is a combination of circumstances which have unfortunately aligned at the same time, namely the reducing international price of coal which has affected the prices we receive from our customers; cost pressures for various consumables etc, albeit we are managing these; and issues specific to Blair House such as thinner coal seams and more old workings.

"These together have meant that we cannot justify short-term continuation of the Blair House operation.

"The restart of site operations will turn on improving circumstances in one or more of the factors listed above and/or a revised way of working which reduces overall costs.

"For the purposes of the restoration bond a mothball period of up to 15 months has been assumed but we will be keeping matters under review on a regular basis in order to determine the most appropriate opportunity to restart operations.

"A further liaison committee meeting and site visit have been arranged in late November to provide a further update to community representatives.

"During the mothball period there will be continuing environmental, security and safety supervision.

"There will be 24/7 water-watch cover on-site in order to maintain the water management system such as pumps and lagoons.

"24/7 security will also be maintained. We also have an ongoing obligation to carry out inspections of the site in order to check and maintain the stability and integrity of the faces, mounds etc." The original operators, UK Coal, planned to mine 720,000 tonnes of coal from the site, which takes in the Black Woods area, regarded as a haven for wildlife, and it also came close to homes in Kinneddar Park and Cowstrandburn.

As local MP, Willie Rennie backed West Fife campaigners in their opposition but planning permission was granted.

In July 2008, the Press had reported that West Fife villagers were joining forces to try to stop their quiet countryside lifestyle being wrecked by the huge opencast site.

There was widespread concern about the effects of dust on health, the structural impact of daily blasting on their property and the general upheaval caused to lives in the area.

In March 2010, environmental activists arrived at the site in a bid to halt tree-felling work designed to clear the site for coal recovery.

The protesters said they were standing up for more than 150 people who objected to the plans, citing concerns about the environmental and health impacts of the opencast mine.

The Cowstrandburn and Kinnedar Park Residents Association has written to Fife Council stating, "The first concern, as you can imagine, is simply that Scottish Coal, given its now widely publicised severe economic difficulties, will simply walk away from the site, leaving behind a deep hole and an unwanted man-made hill."