The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Mining ideas to improve area
BENARTY DEFINITELY has its young at its heart.
The area — taking in the west Fife villages of Ballingry, Lochore, Crosshill and Glencraig — is buzzing with ideas on how to transform the former mining community through the Coalfields Regeneration Trust’s Community Futures programme.
Up for grabs is a £25,000 pot to help breathe new life into the area.
After a long and intensive survey to find out what the community would like to see take place to improve the area, and consultation with more than 25 local stakeholders, the findings were revealed at a community open day.
More than 300 people turned up to vote for their favourite proposals and have a say on which projects should win a share of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust’s £25,000 budget.
The survey’s major suggestions included better facilities and more to do for young people, a community cinema for Benarty and an all-weather playing surface at the community centre.
The survey, which was carried out by the local Community Futures steering group to lay the foundations for a five-year community action plan, also came up with proposals for improvements to King George V park and pavilion and Lochore Miners’ Welfare Institute.
Among local organisations bidding for a share of the £25,000 budget is Kids Come First, which wants to engage with local families by providing a free taster session for every primary school child.
The steering group will now get down to the hard work of analysing feedback and pulling together its action plan, and choosing which community action bids should get a share of the £25,000 budget.