Plans for the creation of a long-promised community woodland in Kinross-shire will not be affected by those for a biomass plant on a neighbouring site.
The Forestry Commission aims to introduce planting, family areas and walks at Lambhill Farm, Blairingone, over the next two to three years.
The sale of a large section of the troubled Lambhill site to the commission a year ago was met with delight by residents who, after a 24-year wait, are beginning to once again see Lambhill in a positive light.
Many local people have already begun to use the existing roadways to exercise their dogs and take their children for walks, and are anticipating being able to put the site to even greater use.
A community woodland was first promised by British Coal in the 1980s as a condition of its permission to operate an open cast mine on the site for a period of eight years.
The pledge went unfulfilled, however, after British Coal was privatised and the community has since found itself in conflict with the various owners of the site.
The Forestry Commission’s plans heralded something of a change in fortunes, so it has been a source of some anger that Lambhill Energy (LHE) is considering placing a biomass plant on the remainder of the site.
LHE has hopes of submitting an application to Perth and Kinross Council for a renewable energy combined heat and power plant and associated woodchip and shavings production centre on the former Oran Recycling site in the coming months.Great feelingOne local man told The Courier, “Over the past few months there has been a great feeling among local people of being able to freely enjoy the environment and abundant wildlife on Lambhill.
“After all this community has been through, surely they are entitled to that without having this latest development thrust upon them.”
Despite Lambhill Energy’s plans, the commission’s local beat forester, Colin Peacock, is hugely positive about the proposed community woodland.
He said, “It’s been really encouraging that the local community in Blairingone has taken the time to share their views with us on developing this woodland.
“We’ve had some good turn outs at a number of drop-in sessions and the community ranger, who has been working with the local school, has also heard some really good ideas.
“We’ve listened to all those views and have now drawn up a local forest design plan, and the last step is to go on the formal public register for 28 days to become approved.
“It will be a community woodland and we hope that local residents will continue to be involved when it comes to putting the plan into action.
“Ideally we’re looking to plant the site in 2012-13 and we’ll be doing more path works, including trying to establish an improved access link to Blairingone.
“We aren’t aware of any plans for neighbouring land, but we can’t imagine anything interfering with our plans to establish a community woodland on the site, as per our design plan.”