The future of Loch Fitty is in the hands of Scottish ministers.
Kingseat Community Council has asked ministers to call in a Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) decision to allow Scottish Coal to drain the loch so the company can exploit coal reserves lying beneath.
A spokesman for the community council said: “Kingseat Community Council has decided to continue its battle against the proposed drainage of Loch Fitty by Scottish Coal.
“The community council has asked the Scottish ministers to call in Sepa’s report in the hope that there will be an inquiry into the situation.
“Sepa suggest there is little opposition from the village but, at an earlier meeting with the community council, Sepa implied that our grounds for objection did not fall into Sepa’s criteria, hence the reason why the community council did not submit an objection to Sepa.
“Sepa also suggest that the loss of the loch and the walkway on the border of the loch would be of little recreational loss to the community this without consulting with the community.
“Sepa, in the opinion of the community council and village residents, has made little effort or no effort to assess the impact on this small community.
“The village has set up a fighting fund to oppose this proposed development.”
A petition opposing the drainage of the loch gathered 400 signatures. But according to Sepa, the loch has poor ecological status and the project would see it improved as an aquatic habitat.
It used to sustain a fishery but this closed in December 2007 because fish in the loch were suffering from health problems.
Scottish Coal has had plans drawn up for the restoration of the loch, with input from the Centre for River Ecosystem Science at Stirling University.
The restoration would follow a six-year period of excavation to recover up to 3.4 million tonnes of high-quality, low-sulphur coal from beneath Loch Fitty.
Planning permission was granted in 2011 for the work, which would be an extension of the St Ninians opencast mine near Kelty.
During excavation, the loch would be drained and watercourses diverted. Scottish Coal says the development would safeguard 89 jobs, create a further 52 jobs and support local businesses.
Sepa area manager Colin Anderson said: “Determining the application by Scottish Coal Company Ltd, for a licence under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations (commonly known as CAR) has involved Sepa carefully assessing and considering every aspect of the proposal, including the potential environmental impacts, both positive and negative.
“Sepa completed a consultation and advertising exercise on the application last year and took account of all relevant responses when determining the application.
“After Sepa had decided it was minded to grant the application, in accordance with legal requirements, we notified everyone who had made a relevant response to the original consultation and advertising of the proposal, providing them with 21 days to object to the Scottish ministers. This period has now finished and Sepa is not aware of any objections by any of those persons.
“We are aware that the Scottish ministers have been asked to call in the application for their determination. We understand the ministers are considering this request and are currently awaiting their response.
“The draft licence for the proposal requires Scottish Coal Company Ltd to comply with stringent conditions which include a requirement to operate at all times in accordance with a monitoring and management plan, which has to be approved by Sepa.
“Sepa will also undertake any additional monitoring and inspection throughout the duration of the works, as it deems necessary. Loch Fitty is currently at poor ecological status and Sepa believes that this proposal should allow good ecological status to be achieved about 10 years earlier than any other available options.”