Art in line for repairs and maintenance

Area committee to spend £10,000 sprucing up public artworks

Glenrothes’ much-loved pieces of town art are to be spruced up over the coming months.

Members of the Glenrothes area committee have been asked to agree to spend just over £10,000 to carry out repairs and maintenance work to 71 different artworks around the town.

The last major maintenance project on Glenrothes Town Art was carried out around five years ago and, following a recent survey by Fife Council’s parks, streets and open spaces department, it has been deemed necessary to bring the pieces and their surroundings back up to a good standard.

Most of the artworks are in line for a power wash or repainting, but in some cases repairs to asphalt, mortar patching up and gardening work will be required.

In a report to today’s committee meeting, Damien Woods, service manager, said examples of town art dominate the landscapes of Glenrothes and confirmed that more than 140 pieces – ranging from mushrooms to flying saucers – are regularly inspected by the parks, streets and open spaces team.

“If the required works are not carried out, the condition of the town art pieces will deteriorate further and may in some cases become structurally unsound and require removal in the future,” he added.

The council’s own team will be able to carry out most of the work, with the exception of two pieces – Hopscotch and Snakes and Ladders in Pitteuchar – which will be repainted by a local artist.

Other notable items in the town centre earmarked for a power wash include the Glenrothes war memorial and Dream in Auchmuty, the Aztec Eagles, Giant Mushroom and Hippos in Pitteuchar, and the Queensway Underpass.

Six pieces in Riverside Park will be cleaned or repainted, while the tulips in Pitcoudie and the Concrete Totem in Rimbleton are among the other items to be looked at.

Councillors are also expected to approve £50,000 funding towards resurfacing the Lomond Centre car park, which has deteriorated in recent years, and £25,000 towards improvement works to the Kinglassie Skate Park and Lochty Park ball court.

A report confirms the Lomond Centre car park is in particular need of attention as soon as possible.

“There has been a growing number of complaints from users regarding the state of the car park and the lack of lined marking bays,” the report adds.

“Site inspection confirms significant deterioration in the car park and it is a situation that will not be improved by occasional patch repairs.”

If the required works are not carried out, the condition of the town art pieces will deteriorate further and may in some cases become structurally unsound and require removal in the future. DAMIEN WOODS SERVICE MANAGER

Picture: George McLuskie. The mushrooms in Pitteuchar are due a new lick of paint.