AN economic and visual boost for East Ayrshire is being predicted with the planned restoration of an abandoned surface coal mine and subsequent revival of part of its landscape.

A 15-strong team currently working at Ponesk surface mine near Muirkirk is expected to move east to Spireslack in the coming weeks, with the family-owned Banks Mining restoring the opencast sites in a contract with East Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust (SMRT).

Banks says the work will benefit the local community with visual and safety improvements at the abandoned mine, which was left derelict after Scottish Coal went into administration in 2013.

It is also expected to sustain local jobs.

Jim Donnelly, Banks Mining’s operations director, said: “The work to be carried out at Spireslack will transform an area which has been a blot on the landscape and a reminder of Scottish Coal’s legacy into a more natural landform which reflects the natural beauty of the surrounding landform.

“The restoration works have been designed so that once the work has been completed it will provide a basis for a variety of potential future uses, including access by the local community.”

Huge diggers and machines scarred the hillsides at Spireslack in a quest to uncover its hidden coal seams, but the restoration will aim to reshape the steep-sided mounds that remain.

More than 5.5 million tonnes of rock and soil were re-profiled to restore Ponesk and it is estimated that about 1.2 million tonnes will be reworked for the restoration of Spireslack.

Banks will continue to employ the team of restoration experts who worked on the Ponesk project.

The SMRT – an independent, not-for-profit organisation that facilitates restoration of abandoned opencast sites – will work alongside Banks Mining at Spireslack.

Its chairman Professor Russel Griggs said: “We’re pleased to be moving forward with Banks Mining on the continued restoration of the Spireslack site. We worked in partnership with Banks on the Ponesk site, so we know that there’s a strong team in place that will complete the work to a very high standard.

“Our objective has always been to work with all of the stakeholders involved in an opencast project to find a pragmatic solution to the problems posed by the site.”

David McDowall, Easy Ayrshire Council’s operations manager, said: “The continuation of the restoration project at Ponesk into Spireslack will ultimately deliver an alternative restoration solution for the former opencast coal complex, making the site safe and enabling the restored land to be utilised for alternative land uses including the proposed Geo park. The restoration of abandoned surface mine sites presents a number of issues, but we take pride in working with local communities to create innovative ways to tackle these problems head-on in order to come up with practical and cost-effective solutions.”