Fresh hopes for lifeboat station as asset transfer tabled.

Building faces being demolished after its closure to make way for new station

Crunch talks among community leaders have led to fresh hopes that a historic Fife lifeboat station can be saved from demolition.

Representatives of Fife Council, the RNLI, councillors and townsfolk gathered in Anstruther for a meeting to discuss the fate of the property, which has stood on the quayside for 116 years.

Further talks will be held next month to discuss a possible community asset transfer of the building.

It is due to close as part of plans to build a new multi-million-pound station, which will house an upgrade of the village’s all-weather lifeboat to a newer and faster Shannon-class vessel.

Despite a clear message from villagers that the old station should be retained and used in some form, planners last month approved conservation consent to allow for its demolition.

Councillors had been advised that to reject the demolition could jeopardise the new station.

Locals fear the much-loved boat shed could be bulldozed to make way for new car parking.

Lib Dem councillor Bill Porteous said the meeting made him hopeful that a suitable compromise solution could be found.

He said: “People were delighted that the RNLI had chosen to invest heavily in improving lifeboat facilities in the town but had also expressed unequivocally that the historic building should remain.

“Many organisations have already expressed their interest in being part of this and with RNLI and Fife Council fully on board I believe we can achieve the best of both worlds for this iconic and important part of Anstruther’s Shore with a new lifeboat facility, improved parking and a community making use of the existing building.

“A community asset transfer of the old station is a real possibility and with a further meeting planned in October, I expect all parties to take an active part in finding a solution that suits everyone.”

The hope now is that another solution to alleviate the car parking situation at Anstruther’s waterfront can be found in the next 12 to 18 months.

“A community asset transfer of the old station is a real possibility. COUNCILLOR BILL PORTEOUS

Picture: Steve Brown. The building has stood on the quayside for 116 years.