The contractor for the new sports & leisure centre in Kirkcaldy is expected to be confirmed shortly.

Work on the £15m project is due to start this November and expected to open in summer 2013, and will be managed on behalf of the Council by Fife Sports & Leisure Trust.

The new centre is part of Fife Council’s £55m investment in new sports & leisure facilities for Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy & Dunfermline and delivering against one of its main priorities of improving sport, leisure & cultural opportunities in Fife.

Strategic Chair of Housing & Communities, Cllr. Brian Goodall, said: "I can confirm that we're close to being able to formally announce the appointment of the preferred contractor to deliver this brand new, state-of-the-art facility. We've also taken on board the views of Kirkcaldy 4 All and other High Street retailers about the value of having the Tolbooth Street public car park available during what we're all hoping will be a busy Christmas shopping period for Kirkcaldy town centre. We're intending, therefore, to enter into discussions with the successful company to see if there's a way of approaching the initial stages of the contract that would allow the continued use of the majority of the car park up until the end of December."


Chair of Kirkcaldy Area Committee, Cllr. Alice Soper, added: "We're looking forward to providing Kirkcaldy with an iconic sports & leisure centre that takes full advantage of a simply stunning position on the Esplanade and which will also be well placed to contribute to the wider regeneration of the town centre. It will significantly enhance sports provision in the town and will boast an impressive array of facilities, including a25m x six-lane swimming pool with poolside spectating for 90 people, 17m x 8m training pool with underwater moveable floor, accessible family changing, health suite with sauna & steam room, aerobics studio, large sports hall, 60-station gym with cardiovascular, resistance & free weights equipment, meeting room and a café with a linked children's play facility."

"I'm pleased that we have been able to take the view of Kirkcaldy 4 All into account and that it seems possible to retain use of the car park until the end of the year."

(JG)