THERE could finally be progress in breaking the stalemate over the derelict Blair House open cast site near Oakley.

Concern has been growing over the lack of restoration work at the site, formerly mined by Scottish Coal until it into ran into financial problems.

The Mines Restoration Limited (MRL) has acquired seven former Scottish Coal sites including Blair House and is starting a “stakeholder engagement programme”.

The sale follows the transfer of environmental licences by SEPA for the former Scottish Coal sites at Dunstonhill, Powharnal, Spireslack/Ponesk and Shiel Farm in East Ayrshire, Glentaggart and Mainshill in South Lanarkshire and Blair House.

MRL will now meet with local authorities, landowners and community groups over the coming months to discuss and develop restoration plans for each of the seven sites. A wholly owned subsidiary of the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust, MRL is an independent and charitable body established to facilitate the process of communities and other stakeholders in restoring open cast sites across Scotland.

Professor Russel Griggs, chair of Scottish Mines Restoration Trust Limited, said, “As part of our due diligence work, we undertook a period of engagement with local authorities and community groups to develop initial outline plans for the respective sites.

“Following transfer of the environmental licenses, our objective will be now to go back to each of the communities to engage further and firm up plans which meet our aim of providing the best restoration within the funds available.

“We fully understand the challenges that restoration can bring and we are best placed to work with everyone involved to find viable solutions. We believe our strategy of engaging with community groups, landowners, the public and private sectors, voluntary bodies and government brings a constructive approach to restoring the former Scottish Coal sites and will support our objective of bringing them back into community use.” Hargreaves Services will manage each of the sites on behalf of MRL and any coal extracted from the sites will be used to support and fund restoration activity.

Fife Council planner James Wright said, “Fife Council is pleased to see MRL taking an active interest in the restoration of the Blair House site and especially welcome the public consultation proposed. As planning authority the council is still in negotiations with the insurer of the site in relation to securing the restoration bond. We will actively work with MRL in the future to restore the Blair House site.” Earlier this summer the Press reported safety fears over children swimming in a large pond at the derelict site. Police had to tell the kids to get out of the water and there is growing anger in the area about the lack of progress in tackling the eyesore 92-acre site.

The greenfield location, between Oakley and Saline, was once a popular walking area and boasted rare wildlife. There was fierce local opposition to the project but councillors voted for it to go ahead before financial difficulties led to work grinding to a halt in 2012.

With the site already mothballed, Scottish Coal went into liquidation last year leaving sites lying derelict across Scotland.

In West Fife, Hargreaves stepped in to take over St Ninian’s and Muirdean but no operator was found for Blair House.