News from Levenmouth Area Committee

Members of the Levenmouth Area Committee met on Wednesday, August 30.

Here's a round-up of some of the main items discussed.

Community Recovery Fund and Local Community Planning Budget Funding Requests

Councillors have agreed on a range of funding requests totalling £329,100 which will benefit local community groups and projects.

The contributions will be coming from the Community Recovery Fund (CRF) and the Local Community Planning Budget (LCPB), with all the approved applications meeting spending criteria and supporting the core aims of the Levenmouth Local Plan.

Here’s a summary of what’s been supported:

• A total of £100,000 has been earmarked for a new modular changing unit at Herd Park in Methilhill. The existing changing room provision is currently mainly used by Methilhill Strollers, but it is well over 30 years old and in need of improvement. While contributions from other sources are being looked at, the £100,000 has now been ring-fenced which should allow a new unit to be purchased and fitted as early in the 2024/25 financial year as possible.
• A further £100,000 has been set aside to cover the costs of a new approach to support green maintenance for the River Leven and wider area – protecting the capital investment being put in place in paths and other infrastructure through the Leven Programme and supporting rail station connectivity.
• Around £30,000 has been allocated towards a participatory budget approach which will support local initiatives. The cash will augment £50,000 of funds already in place and administered by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, and between £200 and £2,000 will be available for local projects.
• £20,000 will go towards new lighting at Methil’s Memorial Park, after previous low-level post lighting – installed several years ago – had to be removed. Five new standard lamps will light the memorial and connecting paths, allowing the park to be used more safely – particularly throughout the winter months.
• £15,000 came from the LCPB anti-poverty budget to support a range of summer activities provided by Community Learning and Development.
• Another £15,000 has been put towards Christmas lighting upgrades in Leven High Street. Due to the recent fires on the High Street, adaptations will be made to infrastructure to ensure full coverage of the street for the December 2023 display.
• A contribution of £10,000 towards QTS/Network Rail Training courses has been approved. The council’s £10,000 contribution will come from LCPB anti-poverty funding and will ensure participants receive a £55 per week training allowance to cover transport and lunch costs over the nine-week training period.
• Members were supportive of offering £8,500 to Eastvale FC towards demolition work at Greig Park in Windygates, after a devastating fire destroyed one of the changing room facilities. Once complete the club will be looking to provide alternative changing facilities as part of a wider development initiative along with other partners.
• During a previous consultation, Fife Council said it would look at a segregated area for dog walkers at Taylor Park in Methil which would reduce the conflict between dog owners and families with young children using the play facilities there. Around £8,500 has been secured to provide fencing and gates for a new dog exercise area.
• £8,000 will go towards helping Largo Library and Community Hub reduce its current running costs for heating. Work will include replacing and installing heaters throughout the building, and various other upgrades.
• Methilhill Community Children’s Initiative (MCCI) has been allocated £6,900 following considerable vandalism damage to play area facilities at their base in Methilhill. MCCI has been proactive in replacing damaged items, but a specific request to Fife Council to replace two composting toilet facilities has been approved.
• And £6,200 has been approved for heating and flooring work at Buckhaven Baptist Church, which has been a key partner in local food insecurity work for several years now.

Councillor Colin Davidson, convener of the Levenmouth Area Committee, said: “I’m delighted at the continued investment and that the hard work of Fife Council staff is delivering for the area.”

Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs)

A number of traffic regulation orders (TROs) are to be promoted after they are given the go-ahead by local councillors.

As part of the Levenmouth Rail Link project, a new railway station is being built near the Levenmouth Sports Centre and Swimming Pool, with the existing car park being redesigned to serve both the sports centre and the railway station.

The shared car park has been designed to comprise 134 car parking spaces, more than the current 83-space provision, and will offer a mixture of limited and unlimited waiting spaces.

Unlimited waiting will apply to 51 standard bays, while there will be 57 standard bays with a four-hour maximum waiting restriction (with no return allowed within one hour).

A further 15 disabled bays and 12 bays for electric vehicles will be enforceable under current off-street parking Traffic Regulation Orders.

It is also proposed to introduce a “No waiting at any time” restriction on a section of the Promenade leading into the car park.

Councillors also heard there are no plans to charge at the car park, which will be managed by Fife Council, and there are also no plans to charge at the car park being built at Cameron Bridge, which will be managed by ScotRail.

Meanwhile, the provision of a new Methil Care Village has also prompted Fife Council to adapt the speed limit within the new development and on surrounding streets.

A 20mph zone is to be introduced on Kirkland Parade, within the Methil Care Village, while a part-time 20mph speed limit relating to the old Kirkland High School is to be revoked and replaced with a permanent 20mph speed limit on Methil Brae.

A further report has been requested about the speed limit on Methilhaven Road and how that will link in with active travel proposals being progressed.

Common Good Funding

Councillors also agreed on a contribution of £10,000 from the Leven Common Good Fund to Fife Employment Access Trust (FEAT) to assist with the larger Heart Mind and Soul project at Silverburn Park.

FEAT is the lead body for the Silverburn Park Flax Mill regeneration project, in collaboration with Fife Council, and the contract for starting building work was recently awarded.

The full set of reports to the committee can be read via Levenmouth Area Committee | Fife Council.