A PIECE of Auchinleck mining heritage has been saved once and for all.

A proposal to pull down the former Highhouse Colliery engine house and associated head frame was booted out by East Ayrshire councillors back in November 2015.

Now the Scottish Government has also given the thumbs down to an appeals against East Ayrshire Council's decision.

Highhouse Estates Ltd appealed to the Scottish Government to over turn the decision, but a reporter appointed by Scottish Ministers has decided to reject the appeal.

The land owner wanted permission to demolish the listed building after they claimed that it had become a hotbed for anti social behaviour, boozing and vandalism.

The report, written by Lorna McCallum, concluded: "I find that in having special regard to desirability of preserving this listed building the proposed demolition is not sufficiently justified."

The report also noted that: "It has not been established that the listed building is incapable of physical repair. I accept there are likely to be challenges in finding means of restoring the building, however, I do not consider that it has been clearly demonstrated that the proposed demolition complies with the criteria in paragraph 3.50 of SHEP."

A spokesperson for the owner said: “Whilst Highhouse Estates Limited are disappointed with the outcome of the appeal, we accept the Reporters Decision. We look forward to engaging positively with the Auchinleck Highhouse Horralls Association and assisting where possible to secure funding to preserve and refurbish the structures. Given the clear strong desire of East Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government to see the structures retained perhaps they can be encouraged to help identify a source funding.”

The company took its case to East Ayrshire Councils Planning Committee last November where it was met with opposition from local community groups who wanted to keep the relic in Auchinleck.

Ex-miners also voiced their objections to the plans.

Talking to the Chronicle last June, Johnny Templeton, who runs the Minersvoices Oral History website and local mining historian, said: “The pit headgear at Highhouse, though not as grand as The Barony A-frame, is no less an iconic structure and should be preserved, as it is the last example of coal mining activity at a community colliery in Ayrshire.

"Highhouse and Barony are the last remains of an industry that at its peak employed 17,500 miners and many thousands more in the ancillary industries. When you stand below these structures, you are standing on top of the shafts that led to the miners subterranean world. It is a connection to our past that must not be lost.”

Highhouse Estates have pumped £100,000 in to the estate since they purchased it in 2011.