Prestonhill Quarry Taskforce

An agreement has been reached to try and make Prestonhill Quarry in Inverkeithing safe as soon as possible.

18-year-old John McKay died earlier this month at the disused site, while a Burntisland teenager died there last August.

Emergency services, Fife Council, Inverkeithing Community Council and the Royal Life Saving Society have met to discuss the way forward and are asking members of the public to report any suspicious behaviour immediately.
 
The meeting comes on the back of notices served earlier this year on the company believed to own the site, being returned and legal advice being taken to identify site owners.   In the interim all is being done to re-erect fencing and replace vandalised signage, but this is being significantly damaged within 24 hours of being erected.
 
Community Councillor Chair, Helen Doig welcomed the meeting and underlined the need for everyone to work together. 
 
“Finding the owners of the site is the key to resolving this situation, but unfortunately it is they who are keeping quiet to a situation that is leading to such tragic circumstances.   There is a careful line that we must all tread in terms of the legalities of the situation we all find ourselves in.  Outwith this, the meeting held got everyone round the table to see what we can do as individual agencies and together.  We are also calling for the community to be vigilant and report suspicious activity to try and avoid another tragedy at this site.”
 
A number of options were identified at the meeting including more education to children and young adults about the dangers of swimming in quarries over the summer. 
 
Helen continued:  “As well as the immediate dangers of using the quarry for swimming and diving in, there are the hidden dangers from items being fly tipped.  These include caravans, old paint pots, car engines and shopping trollies.   We are reviewing the actions discussed at the meeting and will share these with the community. In the meantime, immediate steps are being taken to raise the profile of safety at quarries within schools before they break up for the holidays and this message is being supported by all the agencies.  The group will meet again in around a month’s time to keep engaged with each other and keep the community informed.”