PROMISES to restore the St Ninian's Opencast site in Kelty so an art land project could be created appear to have been forgotten, says the local community council.

Previously described as "one of the most exciting public art projects Scotland has ever seen", the project had been set to transform an ugly hole in the ground next to the M90 at Kelty.

The multi-million pound restoration plans centred on turning the area into a major tourist attraction which would bring visitors and money into the village.

World renowned American architect, Charles Jencks, designed the Fife Earth Project and work started but it was left unfinished when Scottish Coal went bust in 2013.

This week, Kelty Community Council's planning convener, Gary Hutchison, expressed concern that the site would not be restored for the benefit of local residents.

After submitting a freedom of information request to Fife Council in an attempt to find out more, he fears they will be left disappointed after the situation has "dragged on" for years.

"Hargreaves on numerous occasions presented to Kelty Community Council that at a minimum the site would be restored to a level that it could be accessible to the general public," he explained.

"Whilst during a visit on-site, the Kelty Community Council were shown where roads and car-parks would be for public access.

The idea was that this site could be used for recreational use whilst Hargreaves found investors to develop the site.

Mr Hutchison said that Fife Council say there was no agreement with them to provide roads, paths or car-parks.

"As far as they are concerned the site is complete barring a few trees to be planted," he said. "Whether or not it is opened to the public is up to Hargreaves as they own the site.

"Within the FOI reply, Fife Council have also stated that all monies that were in bond for the site have been spent, they also stated to Hargreaves that they have no intention of running the site as a public park.

"It is disappointing to say the the least that after years of putting up with an eyesore of opencast mining and the heavy traffic it brought, there is going to be no benefit to local communities.

"Promises were made by Fife Council and Hargreaves which are being forgotten and we are not even going to have a site for recreation. It is a warning to other communities with opencast mining on their door step."

Our reporter had approached Hargreaves for their response to Mr Hutchison's observations but the company had not responded with a statement before the Central Fife Times went to print.