The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
River park plan for old creosote site
Detailed plans are being drawn up to transform an old creosote works in into a lush river
Leven park.
It is part of a £40 million masterplan to regenerate the banks of the River Leven.
As well as parks and woodlands, the project would create 35km of active travel paths.
Driving the plans is The Leven Programme – a partnership of 16 organisations including the
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), Sustrans, Naturescot, Scottish Water and Fife Council.
The Leven Programme wants to create six themed gardens along the river, from the mouth of the Leven to Cameronbridge.
Celebrating the area’s heritage, the River Leven Park project would be aimed at providing a destination for visitors as well as safe routes for residents to walk and cycle along.
In addition to breathing life into derelict sites, the project would create habitats for wildlife.
There would be children’s play areas and plots to grow food.
Measures to prevent flooding are also included in the plans.
Pauline Silverman is senior manager for partnerships and places at Sepa. She said: “The creosote site, because it sits in the middle of the communities, it’s kind of the heart of the area.”
The partnership is now at the stage of drawing up detailed plans.
Residents will have a chance to give feedback once these are finalised.
Pauline said consultation events will be held in the area, with the aim of reaching as many people as possible.
In the meantime, the creosote works is being
tested for contamination. Before it closed, its main role was treating telegraph poles. And there may be “localised” contamination in areas.
The partnership is also in weekly meetings with Network Rail.
What will soon be the new Levenmouth rail link – expected to open in 2024 – runs through the site.
“The rail line pretty much cuts off communities across from one another. So we need to get bridges in – accessible bridges for all,” said Ms Silverman.
Sustrans is funding the active travel routes. But funding is not yet in place for the parks, and the partnership is submitting bids to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.