Legal battle’s conclusion good news for other opencast site

A multi-million-pound boost has been given to the regeneration of a former Fife opencast site.

Fife Council has secured more than £3.1 million from Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance to restore the Blair House site near Oakley, having settled its lengthy legal battle with the company out of court. Blair House was left in a derelict state when the Scottish Coal Company went into liquidation in 2013, prompting fears around the site’s safety.

A restoration bond arranged with RSA dictated if no remedial work was carried out, the council would receive the money.

However, RSA argued circumstances of the closure meant the bond did not apply. Fife Council has now recovered the full amount of the bond which will allow restoration plans to move forward with site owner Mines Restoration Limited and local community councils finalising the restoration plan.

Scottish Mines Restoration Trust chairman Russel Griggs said: “This is a very positive development for the future of Blair House and has the potential to have a significant impact on the site and the surrounding community.

Fife’s economy, tourism strategic planning and transportation convener, Labour councillor Altany Craik, said: “Fife Council’s legal and planning teams have worked tirelessly over a number of years to secure this victory.”