LOCAL MP Sandra Osborne has called on both the Scottish Government and Westminster to step up to the plate for the substantial funding required for opencast restoration.

She says if they can find cash for Glasgow’s fire-damaged School of Art, they can find some for the an ‘environmental disaster’.

The MP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley said: “For well over a year I have been calling for funding in recognition of the huge gap we face in East Ayrshire to cope with this environmental disaster.

“I have raised this consistently at the coal task force chaired by Fergus Ewing MSP and have met with the UK Energy Minister Michael Fallon MP on several occasions.

“I have always been told there is no budget line for this and funding would need to be taken from something else - so how can both Governments instantly come up with funds for Glasgow School of Art?

“This is indeed a worthy cause for a nationally iconic building. However, we deserve equal consideration for what is an estimated £132 million shortfall to restore the former opencast sites.” Sandra continued: “The people of the Scottish Coalfield Communities are no more responsible for this situation than any other unexpected event beyond their control and it simply cannot be adequately addressed by the action taken by the task force to date, welcome though that has been.

“It is likely that the next meeting of the task force will be the last so I am calling in advance of that for a concrete proposal on funding from the Scottish Government. I have also requested a meeting with Amber Rudd MP, who is now the new Energy Minister.

“After all this time we still do not have adequate answers as to how this was allowed to happen in the first place, who is to be held accountable and who is taking responsibility for funding the restoration which was a requirement of excavation.

“If this remains the case I am calling for a Judge-led Public Inquiry which can cite witnesses and make recommendations.”