Councillors agree to help fund essential repairs to Dysart cliff face

Councillors on the Kirkcaldy Area Committee have agreed to fund £200k towards the urgent repairs needed to Dysart cliff face.

The full cost of the repairs, which include the stabilisation of the rock slopes using rockfall netting, will be around £450k. £250k was secured at the full council meeting that took place in February.

The money will come from various funding streams including:

* £50,000 Community Recovery Fund - leaving £67,661 to be allocated to other projects

* £50,000 Area Capital – leaving £61,000

* £50,000 Kirkcaldy Area Common Good – leaving £100,766 spendable, and

* £50,000 Kirkcaldy Settlement Trust – leaving £68,157 spendable

Convener of the Kirkcaldy Area Committee, Councillor Ian Cameron, said: “Dysart cliff is integral to the whole character of the harbour, which also attracts many tourists to the area. As many will know the harbour was used for filming the Outlander series.

“However, the cliff face is now in danger of totally destroying the tunnel at Dysart harbour and is a risk to the public.

“The tunnel is used by many people walking the Coastal Path and runs through a sandstone crag to the Inner harbour. It was originally built as a rail tunnel for moving ballast stones to ships.

“This money means that the cliff face can be secured for future generations to enjoy.”