The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Take action to repair sinkhole before lives lost, urges councillor
Eyesore created by old coal mine continues to be ignored 10 years after ‘temporary’ closure by estate
Children’s lives could be in danger from a Fife sinkhole left abandoned for more than 10 years, it has been claimed.
Levenmouth councillor Ryan Smart has called on landowner Wemyss Estate to fix the eyesore in the middle of Methilhill amid fears it is a tragedy waiting to happen.
The well-trodden shortcut between Sea Road and Chemiss Road was closed by Fife Council in April 2006, due to the danger of subsidence.
It was initially expected to remain shut as a precautionary measure for just two weeks while the council sought talks with Wemyss Estate and the Coal Authority.
An investigation found the problem was due to old mine workings which lie beneath large swathes of the region.
More than a decade later, the land next to Methilhill Primary School remains fenced off and overgrown. Mr Smart said Wemyss Estate was one of the area’s biggest landowners and added: “They need to stop fencing problems off and actually do something about them.
“The sinkhole in the middle of Methilhill is a prime example. It’s been cordoned off, abandoned and become an eyesore for the people of Methilhill.
“Is it going to take the death of a bairn before anything is done about it?”
He added: “Wemyss Estate is worth millions of pounds and they need to use some of that money on their estate to fix areas that need fixed.”
The Labour councillor for Buckhaven, Methil and Wemyss villages has written to Wemyss Estate offering to work with them to resolve the issue but is yet to receive a reply.
In his letter he said: “I have been asked about this numerous times and would like to be able to tell my local constituents when the area will be open to them once again.”
Despite numerous attempts, Wemyss Estate could not be reached for comment but they have previously said repair of the area hinged on being able to build houses on the land affected.
They said the sale of housing would pay for work necessary to make the land safe.
In a statement in 2016, they said the area had been zoned for housing in the local development plan and added: “An engineer’s report in 2006 found some subsidence on the site.
“As a result, the area was fenced off to make it secure and is regularly monitored.”
Is it going to take the death of a bairn before anything is done about it? RYAN SMART