Current Position

The reclamation project contonues to be many months ahead of schedule and with good weather it is possible that the scheme could get even further ahead. Coaling was completed at the beginning of February 2008, with Minrec having extracted some 1,603,000 tonnes of coal, much more than expected. Final restoration will be completed within the next few months. Please bear in mind that timelines will change due to the fluid nature of the project and possible problems such as adverse weather, the economic & political climate etc. Things like this apply to all projects of this nature throughout the world and what is happening on the Polkemmet site should not be unjustly criticised if changes occur and timelines slip etc. The current situation as of April 2008 is as follows (north to south):

• Area F, Northwest. This area is complete with all the work having being carried out and the grass is growing very well. The remainder of F (around Cult Farm)is being tidied up and compacted.
• Area E: The northern part is back to pre-coaling levels with layers of top soil added. Like area F, the grass is growing very well and the bunds at the side of the B7066 have been removed. The south part of E continues to be layered and compacted up to pre-coaling levels.
• Area B: This area has been coaled, backfilled and compacted and it is virtually at pre-coaling levels. At the very north of B (along B1) is the newly created riparian corridor for the diverted Cultrigg Burn. Bing 1 has been dismantled (bing material has been used in the building of the golf courses) Area B South, backfilling and compacting has taken place around the base of overburden mound 1 a (OB1A) of which very little, if any, remains. Being entirely composed of clay OB1A is being used to cap the finished areas.
• Area A. Most of this area has been backfilled and brought up to platform level for use by the golf course contractors when they take over. A4 to the south around where the last coal was extracted is still being backfilled but shoul be in the same state as the rest of A within the month of April.
• Area C: Most of the Area C has now been brought up to platform level for use for the golf course contractors. Activity continues in C17 while Bing 3 is removed of which over 90% has been removed.
• Area D, southeast. Most of the Area D has now been brought up to platform level for use for the golf course contractors. As mentioned previously Bing 3 is all but removed apart from the dog leg section heading south. By the middle of November 2007 over 1.4m³ of bing material had been removed.

Now that coaling has finished and a large majority of the restoration work completed with only minor changes ahead, this will be the last update of this particular page.