AN action plan to see a mining heritage provision at Lochore Meadows Country Park has reached an important stage.

Indeed, a visit to the Meedies last week has impressed a delegation from the National Mining Museum of Scotland at Newtongrange.

After a series of discussions and meetings with the National Mining Museum Scotland and Lochore Meadows Country Park Management over the past three or four months, the Save the Cage Group are pleased to say that a meeting was held on Wednesday involving the curator of the NMMS, Nicola Moss; and Collections Trust member, David Seath, along with Park Manager Ian Laing and Iain Chalmers of STC.

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss further the proposed project to have major mining artefacts put on display in the vicinity of the Mary Colliery Head Frame, at the park, in a way that explained a miners' journey from the pit head to the coal face.

Said Robert: "We discussed various aspects of the project such as ownership of the items, which the NMMS would retain, but could be placed in the Park on a rolling or permanent loan.

"We spoke about the transport involved in bringing the items to the park and also the plinths that these would be sited on as well as the information boards placed next to each item.

"The items requested would also have to be cleaned and painted white prior to being displayed".

Save the Cage produced a brochure, based on the Frances Cage project, which gave a guideline on the costs involved along with photographs of the Miners Garden, at Fallin, which shows mining equipment on plinths.

Added Cowdenbeath man Robert: "We also spoke about the NMMS having a presence in the park and how that could be beneficial in raising interest in the NMMS, at the Lady Victoria Colliery, in Newtongrange.

"Nicola and David had never been to the Park before so myself and Ian Laing gave them a tour of the area around the Head Frame where we would like to display the items.

"Nicola was pleased to see the close proximity to the area from the Willie Clarke Centre.

"I’m pleased to say that both the National Mining Museum of Scotland and Park Management are aware of the great potential to have major mining artefacts at the Meedies and and are committed to further explore this exciting project".

Concluded Robert: "The next meeting of the Collections Trust will held in November where this will be discussed and hopefully approval for the items requested will be given, and planning can go ahead to have those items moved, painted and displayed as a memorial to the Coal Communities of the Kingdom and a once great industry.

"If the project is given the green light Save the Cage will start the next stage of the project which will restart a fund raising campaign to realise the cash needed towards making this project happen".