Local residents say a 20-year project to restore a former Fife colliery will take too long.
Work to reinstate the land at the defunct Comrie Colliery site near Saline, which closed down in 1986, is expected to take two decades.
Saline and Steelend Community Council want the timescale reduced by half.
In a letter to Fife Council, community council chairman David Chisholm said: “An overriding concern for the community is to see the remediation of the site completed as quickly as possible.
“The period of 20 years that has been mentioned is considered too long.
“We suggest a maximum of 10 years.
“We would also like to see some kind of timetable and phasing incorporated in the permission so that progress can be more easily monitored.”
Comrie Estates Limited, which owns the 163-acre site and operates under Caledonian Construction Limited, has lodged planning applications as part of the wider project.
A proposal for a demolition waste recycling plant has prompted 30 letters of objection including from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
SEPA has asked Comrie Estates to provide further information about drainage and environmental impact in relation to water courses.
The applicant has also been asked to work with SEPA to clarify arrangements for waste management.
Despite raising a number of concerns, including relating to the timescale, impact on the local road network and enforcement of planning conditions, the community council said it did not object to the proposal.
“The community council does not object to the use of the site for the purposes described,” said Mr Chisholm.
“However, there are serious concerns about the operation of the site, impact on the local road network and the duration of the activity.
“One particular thing we feel needs to be clarified is the relationship between the two elements of the project, the recycling facility and the restoration of the land.”
A separate planning application has been lodged for the restoration of the coal bing, including landscaping and planting.
Comrie Estates said in a supporting statement submitted to the council: “The proposed restoration works which will include engineering enabling works which this application is applying for will be for a timescale of 20 years allowing for all reinstatement works in a phased manner to be completed together with aftercare management of the land.
“The proposed scheme has been designed to the highest standard to minimise potential environmental impacts. This would be achieved by seeding as soon after an area has been profiled and soil coverage is complete.”
