Destruction of Fife mining memorial plaque ‘devastating’

targeted: Memorial marking the history of the pit has been ruined in latest incident in a recent spate of vandalism

The destruction of a memorial to a Fife town’s mining heritage is “devastating”, a community figurehead has claimed.

David Taylor, the secretary of Cardenden Community Council, has called on local residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police after vandals targeted the tribute to the Bowhill Colliery at the weekend.

A plaque marking the history of the pit was damaged, with heavy rocks scattered near to the cairn thought to have been used.

It is the second time in the past year that the memorial has been vandalised and is part of a recent spate of incidents the town, according to Mr Taylor.

“It is devastating,” he said. “People have put a lot of effort into that memorial.

“There has been quite a lot of vandalism at the moment and it is very sad to see. “It is disheartening. “The community garden has been targeted and so has the old shop.”

Located at the entrance to what is now the Bowhill View housing development, the memorial to the Lady Josephine Colliery at Bowhill was erected in several stages between 1996 and 2000.

Documenting the history of the pit, which operated between 1895 and 1965, the site also contains a memorial to the more than 300 miners whose lives were lost working at the site.

Police have been alerted to the incident and are now said to be investigating.

Mr Taylor said that continued vandalism to local landmarks was hindering attempts by community groups to improve the area.

“We have the Beautiful Fife competition coming up next month and we’ll be putting up flower baskets to try and raise the appearance of the area.

“We want to bring Cardenden up, but then things like this happen.

“The only thing we can do is report it to the police and be more vigilant.”

We want to bring Cardenden up, but then things like this happen. COMMUNITY COUNCIL SECRETARY DAVID TAYLOR

Picture: Steven Brown. Councillor Rosemary Liewald, Angie Roy of the residents association and David Taylor, secretary of the community council, at the memorial which has been vandalised.