A road once used to transport coal between the opencast coal mine at St Ninians and Longannet Power Station in Fife has been uncovered.
The “exciting” discovery was made during maintenance and repair work at the former opencast mine in Kelty.
Developers are working to turn the 930-acre St Ninians and Loch Fitty site, just off the M90 motorway near Dunfermline, into an ecotherapy and wellness park
Vegetation has covered the 2.25 mile road since the mine closed, but it was rediscovered as work got underway to clear.
The road, believed to date back to the 1970s, was likely used to transport coal between the mines in the area to the recently demolished Longannet Power Station and onwards for distribution by road and rail.
Irene Bisset, chair of National Pride, the company developing the site, said: “The uncovering of the former coal road has been amazing, particularly as what was revealed was in a very good condition having been protected from the weather by the years of accumulated vegetation.
“The now exposed road will us assist greatly by providing easier access across the site whilst further maintenance and repair works continue.
“During these necessary ongoing restoration works, heavy plant and machinery will be present and contractors will take every precaution to ensure the safety of visitors.
“Signage has been erected to urge the public to exercise caution and diversions away from the works will be in place.”
National Pride (St Ninians) Ltd say they will soon bring forward proposals to Fife Council for the development, with details made public as soon as possible.
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