Plans for £100,000 skate park in Oakley take a step forward

Plans for a new skate park in the village of Oakley have taken a step forward.

A planning application has now been submitted for a site to the north of Oakley Health Centre in Wardlaw Way.

The Fife Council scheme has been supported by youngsters in the area, who have been closely involved in the design stages.

Project leaders feared the area’s mining heritage might pose problems, and the Coal Authority has been asked for its input.

It said the possibility of historic coal extraction in the area could not be discounted. However, a report produced by DLM Mining Consultants has suggested the site’s past uses should not cause any major difficulties.

“Normally in these past mining circumstances we would recommend, before making a final decision in respect of new development, that bores be put down to confirm underlying conditions are indeed as envisaged and the site is not at risk from the presence of shallow uncharted mine workings,” it noted.

“However, having regard to the nature of the proposals, and taking cognisance the general locale has been in recreational use for some time and prior to that in residential usage, in this instance an intrusive investigation by way of a programme of rotary boring may be considered unreasonable.”

The council pledged £25,000 towards the £100,000 overall cost of the skate park, with £50,000 coming from Fife Environment Trust and another £10,000 from the National Lottery.

Villagers have also been raising funds to help meet the price tag.