The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
On track for safe trip down memory lane
Community council hoping to create cycle training track and miniature village
West Fife is on track to take a safe trip back down memory lane.
Generations of youngsters remember heading to Dunfermline’s Pittencrieff Park and its miniature “village” for cycling lessons.
Sadly the area, with its little roads and crossings, is long gone.
But now Townhill Community Council wants to create something similar in an unkempt area of Townhill Park.
Its Cycle Safely for Fun project has just received £20,407 from the City of Dunfermline area committee, which will allow it to proceed.
The community council is also seeking £50,000 from Fife Environment Trust and £3,000 from the Carnegie Trust for signs.
The popular park has an unsightly central area that is overgrown and unusable.
The community council intends to build an updated version of the popular model traffic area, created in 1950, so beloved by youngsters.
It would feature 2m-wide pathways, forming a one-way mini road network, compete with signs to give young cyclists an authentic taste of the current rule of the road and Highway Code in complete safety.
The area will be available to use freeof-charge by the public, by the local primary school for cycle training like Bikeability courses and for parents and grandparents to supervise children’s first wobbly rides on cycles.
Once proficient on two wheels, they could then make use of the Fife cycle track network adjoining the park.
It is thought the plan would attract even more visitors to the Townhill park, which is becoming a destination for visitors from across Fife.
In a report, locality support team leader Callum Farquhar said the initiative represented good value for money and added to the park’s credibility for Green Flag status.
Area ser vices manager Joe McGuinness said: “This would replace, in some respects, the much missed children’s traffic area in the park.
“People will remember using the one in Pittencrieff Park.
“This would further enhance Townhill Park.
Committee chairwoman Helen Law was delighted with the plan, adding: “This facility will be an ideal area to teach youngsters about traffic signs and how to avoid potential dangers on the road, within a totally safe area. “This is a fantastic idea for Townhill .” The original model traffic area, made so children could learn to ride bikes in safety away from cars, was a massive hit from day one.
In the first six days of it opening 1,220 children had enjoyed the facility.
It closed in 1999 and the site is where the Carnegie Trust buildings now stand.
This facility will be an ideal area to teach youngsters about traffic signs and how to avoid potential dangers on the road, within a totally safe area.
HELEN LAW