THE Scottish Mining Museum is backing proposals to create a heritage facet at Lochore Meadows Country.

Cowdenbeath man Ian Chalmers is steering the project to have items from the mining industry brought to the part and situated around the site of the Mary Colliery Pit Head.

Mr Chalmers met with officials of the Museum at Newtongrange last week and was greatly encouraged by the reaction of the curator to the proposals.

He has been trying to progress this project for a couple of years and set up the Save the Cage organisation and raised several thousand pounds to help make things happen/

The meeting held at the National Mining Museum of Scotland Newtongrange with Ms Nicola Moss, the Curator, was to clarify several points that the Collections Trust raised when they received the list of major mining machinery that they would like displayed in the vicinity of the Mary Colliery head frame in Lochore Meadows Country Park.

Said Mr Chalmers: "The Collections Trust wanted to know how the items would be displayed would there be information boards to explain each item and how would the items be secured when displayed.

"They were concerned about possible theft and vandalism and the effect of weathering as they would be displayed outside. They also raised the issue of transportation and costs both for transport and the plinths and display boards.

"I advised the Curator we would like the cage displayed near the head frame and the other items positioned in such a way that it followed a Miner's travel into the mine to the coal face. As regards vandalism I advised that those items were designed to be used in a harsh underground environment and were designed to withstand sever working conditions, as for theft I believe it very highly unlikely that someone would steal a major piece of mining machinery and I assured her that all the items would be made as secure as possible on the plinths.

"Again, with weathering, these items were designed to operate in wet conditions, the items would need to be pressure washed and painted white before they would be displayed in the Park.

"The issue of funding was also discussed and I advised the curator that we are currently looking at several ways in which we can raise the required monies necessary for this project".

Mr Chalmers continued: "I also raised the educational value of having a Mining Heritage Park in the Meadows and the role it would play in showing students what coal mining was like.

"I asked the Curator if the Collections Trust raised any objections to any of the items requested and I’m pleased to say that no objections were raised.

"We discussed visitor numbers to both the National Mining Museum and the Lochore Meadows Country Park and the National Mining Museum are indeed interested in having a presence in the Park that will benefit both the Museum and the people of Fife.

"The Collections Trust have requested that we prepare and present a plan for this potentially exiting project that will be a fantastic asset to the Meedies and to the coal mining communities of the Kingdom".