WORK to ensure the preservation of the historic Mary Pit winding wheel in Lochore Meadows is set to take place.

Investigation work to determine what repairs need to be undertaken are due to take place in the New Year after concerns had been raised over the wheel's deteriorating condition.

Historic Environment Scotland have now granted approval for work to be carried out.

Fife Council Community manager Sarah Roxburgh said: "We're delighted that scheduled monument consent from Historic Environment Scotland has been given. This allows us to move forward with more detailed inspection work on the Winding Wheel which we hope will take place early in January.

"We'll then receive a report which will help us understand what the next steps might be.

"Once we have a more detailed picture of the status of the Winding Wheel and a better understanding of what work is needed we can look at pulling together a funding package and getting the local community more involved."

READ MORE: Update on Mary Pit Head at Lochore Meadows

Local MSP Annabelle Ewing was pleased that work on the wheel can now take place.

“There has been a lot of concern about the deteriorating state of the iconic Mary Pit Winding Wheel at Lochore Meadows and I am concerned that this important piece of local mining history must be preserved for future generations," she said.

“I arranged an online meeting recently with Sarah Roxburgh, the Community Manager for Strategy and Commissioning at Fife Council, and some of her colleagues, to get a progress report on the Mary Pit Winding Wheel.

“During that meeting, I noted that in fact Scheduled Monument Consent was required and hence investigative inspection works could not commence until this has been received, and I undertook to write to Historic Environment Scotland urging them to speed up the process.

“I am delighted to have received confirmation from HES that they have now processed the application and granted consent.

“This is good news as consent was an essential hurdle that needed to be cleared to enable these long-awaited works to advance and I am pleased to have been able to play a part in that progress.

“The winding wheel is a symbol of this area’s proud mining heritage and it must be preserved.”

Last year the Times reported growing concerns over the worsening state of the iconic Mary Pit Head Frame with large chunks of concrete having reportedly coming loose and falling from high up in the crossbeams.

A ‘Save the Mary’ petition calling on Fife Council to carry out urgent repairs gained more than 1,600 signatures, but the sizeable cost of doing long-lasting work to preserve the 102-year-old structure has so far proved prohibitive.

At the time, councillors on the Cowdenbeath area committee instructed officers to work with Heriot Watt University academic Professor Demetrios Cotsovos with a view to presenting a report on the condition of the winding wheel structure and thereafter exploring options available to restore it to its former glory.