Neighbours in Cardenden fear their homes may have been damaged by polluted water flooding their gardens.
Robert and Moira Bennett and Sandy Imrie, who lives next door, have lost the bottom of their gardens to sludge contaminated with red oxide from former opencast coal workings.
But it was only when Mr Imrie recently dug up a fence post just two metres from his semi-detached house in Woodend Park and found water underground that they began to worry the foundations may have been affected.
They are lodging insurance claims against Fife Council, criticising it for delays in a water quality improvement programme for the town and failing to dredge the burn behind their homes.
The council has denied responsibility for the flooding as it does not own land to the rear of the properties, but said it hopes to embark on the mine water project soon.
Mr Bennett said: “For the council to say it has no legal obligation is a load of nonsense. It has destroyed our garden, now it wants to walk away.”
He has had a quote of £5,300 for reinstating his garden but fears that will be the tip of the iceberg if the building has been affected.
Mr Imrie said: “Red contaminated sludge is coming up through the ground and filling the burn.
“The burn is so full of this sludge there is nowhere for the water to run. I wouldn’t be surprised if the water is under the house.”
Council lead officer for enterprise, planning and protective services, Kenny Bisset, said: “Fife Council is taking no direct action against the flooding issue as we do not own this land.
“We appreciate that some householders have concerns and would encourage them to take this up with the landowners directly.
“However, we are negotiating with the landowners to improve the water quality of mine waters impacting Jamphlars Pond.
“This project will involve piping mine waters into a series of settlement lagoons for treatment.
“This will be situated on council-owned land opposite the Auchterderran Centre on Woodend Road.
“We are pursuing the necessary access arrangements for this proposal and are hopeful that these can be concluded soon.”
Photo by David Wardle