News from Levenmouth Area Committee

Members of Levenmouth Area Committee met this morning (Wednesday, May 31). Here is a summary of some of the items discussed and decisions taken.

Service updates

Councillors considered a range of update reports presented by representatives of Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Safer Communities team, Fife Council's education and children's services, and Fife Council's grounds maintenance, domestic waste and street cleansing services.

The full committee papers can be viewed in more detail on the Fife Council website.

Councillors support play space categorisation  

A clear basis on which to prioritise capital investment for the refurbishment of play parks across Levenmouth has been backed by local councillors.

Members of the Levenmouth Area Committee have approved play spaces categorisation for wards 21 and 22, which aims to create better quality and more inclusive play parks throughout the area and ensure that areas most in need will be identified as a priority.

Within the Levenmouth committee area, there are 46 Fife Council-maintained sites with play equipment varying from two pieces of equipment to the likes of Letham Glen.

Much of the equipment will be at the end of its safe use in the next 10 years, so there is a need to plan for replacement and refurbishment of sites to secure funds.

With that in mind, parks in Levenmouth have been categorised into town play parks, local play parks and natural play spaces, and 16 sites have been identified as in need of improvement – a process which can cost up to £150,000 a time.

Councillor Colin Davidson, convener of the Levenmouth Area Committee, said: “We’re sure implementation of this play space categorisation will lead to better quality play spaces right across Levenmouth, and play spaces that are more inclusive for children of all ages and abilities.”

In Ward 21, Forth View, Kingsdale, Springbank, Christie Park, Glenlyon Park, Keilburn, and Greig Park have been identified as sites in need of improvement, while the same is true of parks at Coaltown of Wemyss, The Haugh, Savoy Park, Abbots - Oakvale Road, South Grove, Herd Park, West Wemyss, Lilac Bank and Daisy Park in ward 22.

Officers have already approved refurbishment at Glenlyon Park and this is being progressed.

As implementation can be a long-term process due to the range and volume of sites and the costs involved to deliver refurbishments, this categorisation will help Fife Council target investment appropriately.

Communities and Neighbourhoods have ringfenced play park refurbishment funding included within their capital programme. For example, recent projects have been delivered by council officers in West Wemyss, East Wemyss and Castle Terrace West, Kennoway.

In 2021, the Scottish Government also pledged to invest £60 million over the course of this Parliament to renew public, free-to-access play parks.

Since this funding was announced, Levenmouth has already benefited from £317,000 of investment, with the potential of a further £260,000 to March 2026 now that the council’s Play Spaces Strategy has been agreed at a local level.

Council support to improve Wemyss Caves visitor centre and museum 

A visitor centre and museum that helps to promote and safeguard one of Scotland’s most significant historic assets is to receive funding from Fife Council’s Community Recovery Fund.

Councillors on the Levenmouth Area Committee have agreed to a £28,200 contribution towards the cost of an improvement package at the Terras Hall in East Wemyss – which provides a base for the Save Wemyss Ancient Caves Society (SWACS).

The Wemyss Caves, which along with the remains of Macduff’s Castle are designated as a scheduled monument, contain the largest collection of Pictish inscribed symbols in one place, with archaeological evidence of activity on and around the site for at least 4,000 years.

SWACS not only aims to secure the caves, carvings and other archaeological remains for future generations and ensure safe access to them but also aims to raise awareness of their significance and hosts a programme of scheduled public guided tours for thousands of people each year.

After operating with no security of tenure from a room in the basement of the East Wemyss Primary School from 1987 until 2018, SWACS now occupy the Terras Hall and have a lease until 2043.

However, investment is needed in the premises to benefit the community and visitors to the caves alike.

Councillor Colin Davidson, Levenmouth Area Committee convener, said: “The site down there is of international significance, so we’re delighted to support this approach with funding from the Community Recovery Fund.

“The work proposed here will have a beneficial impact on the local tourism offer and dovetails perfectly with the development of the new rail link.”

Proposals include the installation of marmoleum over current wooden flooring to prevent damp penetration from the basement; the conversion of toilets and part of the kitchen into a wheelchair-accessible facility; the demolition of a porch area which is in poor condition; and the widening of door areas to accommodate wheelchairs.

The package of measures will also see the kitchen remodelled, roof insulation improved, general repair work carried out and the purchase of an additional display case and computer equipment.

Community manager Dave Paterson said: “The improvements will increase the amenity of the building for visitors who are likely to come in greater numbers with the return of the Levenmouth rail link, as well as providing another point of interest for visitors on the well-used Fife coastal path.

“The work will also ensure the artefacts within the building are maintained and preserved by preventing water ingress and commensurate mould issues, as well as increasing the security of the building itself.”

The project was just one of several to benefit from the Community Recovery Fund following decisions taken by councillors on the Levenmouth Area Committee this week.

Others included:

• A contribution of £44,153 towards the cost of employing a Community Engagement Officer to be based at Methil Heritage Centre, with a view to getting the centre re-opened as soon as possible.
• Almost £29,000 to cover extra costs relevant to the pump track development at Kennoway.
• £10,000 to cover required ground remediation work at Kennoway Den.
• A contribution of £6,323.37 to cover the costs relevant to the installation of an electrical connection to the event space at the unexpected Garden at Leven Centre.

More support for hard-to-reach Levenmouth households 

A project that has helped hundreds of hard-to-reach households across Levenmouth with crucial cost-saving energy advice will be stepped up this year after further funding from Fife Council.

Members of the Levenmouth Area Committee agreed to use £30,000 from the Community Recovery Fund to support Greener Kirkcaldy’s work in the area, building on the success of a previously-run enhanced energy advice project for Levenmouth.

A report to the committee revealed that between April 2022 and March 2023, in-depth energy advice was given to 160 households in the Levenmouth area (92 households received in-depth telephone energy advice and a further 68 households received an energy advice home visit).

Of these households, 56 received a total of 135 fuel top-up vouchers to ensure they were not disconnected over the winter period, while 54 households also received energy efficiency measures through Greener Kirkcaldy’s ‘handy’ service - including thermal curtains, LEDs, radiator panels, microwaves and slow cookers.

To date, 133 participants have received a total of £50,022 in financial gains, averaging £376 per home, and it is anticipated these gains will increase after the life of the project as more debt is cleared and more handy service measures are installed.

The funding secured for this year will have a particular focus on Methil and Buckhaven following evidence gathered about the impact of COVID and the cost of living crisis, but support will be available to anyone referred in Levenmouth if required.

Councillor Colin Davidson, Levenmouth Area Committee convener, commented: “As in previous years we will ensure that the support being offered by this approach will be well advertised through our large networks of agencies, third sector partners and community groups.

“Greener Kirkcaldy are also well versed into tapping into local networks, and have strong links in Levenmouth with local charities, churches, schools etc., and will utilise these as required.”

Work carried out in previous years has brought about strong financial benefits for clients who have been supported by Greener Kirkcaldy.

On average, there has been a return of £4 of client benefits for every £1 invested in grant.

Meanwhile, councillors also agreed to support a contribution of £30,000 to Castle Furniture’s Levenmouth Independence Initiative, which provides furniture and white goods to referred households in need.

Founded in October 1993, the Castle Furniture Project offers free or low-cost household goods to disadvantaged families and individuals, also providing the transport and labour to collect donations free of charge from people throughout Fife.

It also offers marginalised groups the chance to work in a safe, supportive, inclusive environment which is, for many people, the first tentative step to leading a more structured life.

Full details of all the agenda items discussed during today's Levenmouth Area Committee can be viewed in the committee papers.