Assurance given after Wellwood works led to flooding concerns

The Coal Authority has given an assurance that work to stabilise mine workings in Dunfermline will not lead to flooding.

Some local councillors raised concerns that grouting works at Wellwood, where a major housing development is under way, could lead to underground mine water bubbling up to the surface elsewhere.

Approval was recently granted for the last phase of grouting works at the site, which involves pumping cement into old coal seams to prevent the ground from collapsing,

A spokesperson for the Coal Authority said: “We monitor mine water levels and trends in the Fife and Dunfermline area as part of our national mine water management programme. This includes remediation of mine water to prevent environmental pollution.

“Local to Wellwood is the mine water treatment scheme at Pitfirrane which has the necessary capacity to treat the water draining from this part of the Fife coalfield. The mine water levels monitored at West Baldridge, close to Wellwood, are more than 40 metres below the surface. There are numerous mine workings in the locality that provide pathways for mine water migration. Therefore, the development works should not have a detrimental effect on the mine water drainage system to Pitfirrane.

“Mineral stabilisation or remedial works, such as drilling and grouting of shallow workings, is common practice within the industry. The planning section of the Coal Authority has been approached several times as part of the various applications for this site, which is split into phases, with each requiring approval for mineral stabilisation works from the Coal Authority’s permitting team.”

The Pitfirrane scheme was installed to tackle pollution caused by mine water, which is high in iron deposits. Underground pipes have been installed to divert mine water and this has helped to address flooding caused by the collapse of the Pitfirrane day level in the 1980s.

The Pitfirrane day level dates back to the 1730s, when it was built to drain water from local mines.