The investment could have a significant impact on the local community (Image: Getty)
An abandoned Scottish coal mine is set for a major upgrade after securing £150,000 in funding — with locals welcoming the plans. The investment, secured by locals in Fallin, near Stirling, will assess the feasibility of using the flooded Polmaise Colliery as a geothermal heat source.
Community leaders say the project will help breathe new life into the area while preserving an important part of its industrial heritage. Under the plans, the possibility of extracting heat from the mine’s water using heat pumps could lead to the development of the first community-owned energy project powered by an abandoned coal mine in the UK. Alasdair MacPherson, an independent councillor for Bannockburn on Stirling Council and the lead volunteer for the Fallin Minewater Thermal Project, told The National: “This is a transformative moment for Fallin.
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The plans will look at the possibility of extracting heat from the water in the mine (Image: Getty)
“Our village was built on coal, and for generations, our community powered the nation. Now, we have the opportunity to use that same mining heritage to power our own green revolution.
“Securing this £150,000 means we can move from a ‘what if’ to a ‘how to.’ It’s about energy security, lowering carbon footprints, and proving that former mining villages can be at the forefront of the net-zero transition.”
The funding will also support work to turn the former mine into a space enjoyed by residents and tourists alike.
Mr MacPherson added: “The feasibility study will assess the technical requirements for extracting heat from the mine workings and evaluate how a local heat network could be designed to serve high-density areas of the village.”
Local campaigners have long argued that the site should be restored rather than left to deteriorate, saying it represents an important link to the village’s past.
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The coal mine was once a major employer in the area, but its closure decades ago was part of the decline of the UK’s mining industry. Since then, parts of the site have fallen into disrepair.
The Polmaise Colliery is said to have been the first pit to have gone on strike in Scotland in 1984 and finally closed in 1987, when it still employed 112 men.
Supporters of the new plans say the investment could help revitalise the local area while celebrating its mining heritage.
Residents have welcomed the project, saying it will ensure the historic location is preserved for future generations.
Work is expected to begin once final preparations are completed, with organisers hoping the improvements will create a renewed sense of pride in the community.
For many locals, the project represents a chance to honour the region’s mining history while giving a neglected site a new purpose.