The Council has agreed a series of actions to address the issue of opencast mining restoration in East Ayrshire following the collapse of Scottish Coal and Aardvark earlier this year. These actions are in relation to a number of issues, including local employment and business impacts, environmental considerations, planning applications and compliance monitoring and restoration of existing opencast sites. To find out more about what the Council is doing, please read the documents below.
Independent Review of the Regulation of Opencast Coal Operations in East Ayrshire - Redacted report by the Independent Review Team: Jim MacKinnon, CBE (Chair), Chris Norman and James Fowlie dated 20 January 2014 - Please note that reference to "Glenburn" within the report should read "Greenburn".
Restoration Guarantee Bonds for Opencast Coal Mines - Review of Policies, Procedures and Practices in Scotland's Coalfields dated January 2007
Independent Review of the Regulation of Opencast Coal Operations in East Ayrshire - Report by the Chief Executive dated 22 January 2014
Independent Review of the Regulation of Opencast Coal Operations in East Ayrshire - Council's Response - Report by the Chief Executive dated 22 January 2014
Opencast Coal Mining in East Ayrshire - Steps to Recovery - Progress Report - Report by the Depute Chief Executive dated 22 January 2014
Statement from Chief Executive Fiona Lees - 12 December 2013
Update on Operational Coal Sites - 12 December 2013
Opencast Mining in East Ayrshire - Compliance Monitoring - 29 November 2013
East Ayrshire Council Chief Executive Report 'Opencast Mining in East Ayrshire – Steps to Recovery' – 19 September 2013
Court of Session Judgement – 11 July 2013
East Ayrshire Council Report 'Opencast Coal Mining in East Ayrshire', Independent Review – 27 June 2013
East Ayrshire Council Report 'Opencast Mining & Scottish Mines Restoration Trust Limited' – 27 June 2013
East Ayrshire Council Cabinet Report 'Opencast Mining in East Ayrshire – Update' – 24 May 2013
East Ayrshire Council Cabinet Minutes – 24 May 2013
If you would like an accessible version please contact communications.pr@east-ayrshire.gov.uk