THERE are proposals for a holiday park with lodges and caravans at a former coal mine west of Blairhall.
And locals will be able to take a look at the plans for the derelict colliery at Castlehill at a public consultation meeting in the village, pencilled in for later this month.
Once one of West Fife's busiest coal mines, employing almost 800 people, it closed for good more than 20 years ago and the abandoned site has fallen into disrepair.
But that could all change with Ben Jurin Architecture Ltd, based near Manchester, tasking Dunfermline firm Oliver and Robb Architects with submitting a proposal of application notice to Fife Council.
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That gives them a 12-week consultation period to gather feedback on their ideas for the site before they can submit a full planning application.
At this early stage, details are few but approval should see the six hectare site cleared and redeveloped to enable visitors to enjoy a short break in the West Fife countryside.
The applicants will seek a change of use for the eyesore site, which is south of the A907 Dunfermline to Alloa road and close to Bogside, from "former industrial land to holiday lodge / caravan park".
The proposals include the siting of caravans and creation of a link path, as well as other associated infrastructure.
A previous attempt to regenerate the site was made in 2011 when Lomond Homes tabled plans for "an attractive, accessible eco village" at the former mine.
They had bought the site and their vision of a "sustainable development" included a mix of 38 homes, six 'live' work units, a community building, allotment space for food cultivation, 'high quality usable open spaces' and a wildlife buffer with sustainable drainage features.
Plans were approved in May 2012 but the permission expired without any work taking place and Lomond Homes entered into administration in 2013.
Owned by the National Coal Board, the Castlehill mine opened in 1965 and was part of the Longannet complex which also included Bogside and Solsgirth.
The three mines provided coal for the power station and were connected to Longannet by a five mile tunnel.
At its peak Castlehill employed almost 800 people but was closed in 1990.
It continued on a care and maintenance basis, used for access and ventilation to the Longannet complex, but closed for good after the flooding of Longannet in 2002 ended deep coal mining in Scotland.
The power station closed in 2016.
The public information event, for the holiday park plans, is scheduled to take place from 4pm to 8pm on Wednesday, October 25, in Blairhall Community Centre.
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