News that new proposals for the restoration and development of the former Westfield Opencast site have been welcomed by MSP Alex Rowley who is now urging the local communities to get involved and have their say on the proposals being developed by Hargreaves Services who own the site.
Mr Rowley recently met with the company to discuss the opencast sites in his constituency and confirmed this week that Hargreaves has submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PoAN) to Fife Council outlining the statutory consultation process that they will follow leading up to them submitting a planning application later this year.
In a letter to the Cowdenbeath MSP, Robert Watson, Development Director of Hargreaves Services said; “Hargreaves has identified Westfield as one of our priority development sites, and although we are at an early stage of the project, we are looking to engage with local stakeholders and residents over the coming months to get feedback on our emerging vision. Hargreaves has been actively restoring other opencast sites in Fife and has the experience and capability to deliver a Masterplan for Westfield that will greatly improve and enhance the local area”.
Stressing that Hargreaves is fully committed to working in partnership with Fife Council, local communities, local businesses and stakeholders Mr Watson continued; “Our current draft proposals include for: physical restoration works; extensive public access; landscape and ecological enhancement; and economic development encompassing a range of employment space, renewable energy and resource recovery facilities. We aim to take the Westfield site out of dereliction and stimulate investment and create new business opportunities and jobs for this part of Fife.
Alex Rowley said; “I welcome this interest and commitment to developing the Westfield site and I look forward with great enthusiasm to seeing the proposals at the public exhibitions being held in March. I would encourage all those in the surrounding communities in Benarty, Kinglassie and Cardenden to get along to the events and give their views on what is being proposed”.
Public exhibitions will be held on Wednesday 16th March in the Corrie Centre, Cardenden between 4pm – 8pm on Thursday 17th March in the Mitchell Hall, Kinglassie between 4pm – 8pm and on Friday 18th March in Benarty Community Centre, Ballingry between 4pm – 8pm.
Wednesday 16th March in the Corrie Centre, Cardenden between 4pm – 8pm
Thursday 17th March in the Mitchell Hall, Kinglassie between 4pm – 8pm
Friday 18th March in Benarty Community Centre, Ballingry between 4pm – 8pm
