THE £2 MILLION plans to redevelop a derelict site in Glencraig and turn it into a Fife Youth Sports Academy have been given the thumbs up.

An open day was held at the Miners Welfare Institute in Lochore on Sunday to gauge opinions on the proposals for Ore Park, the former home of Ballingry Rovers.

As reported in the Times last week, a community asset transfer from Fife Council is almost complete and it's hoped a new multi-use facility will help breathe new life into the area.

Charlotte Howe, spokesperson for the academy, said: "Over the course of the day we had around 200 people in, at one stage we could hardly get moving!

"Everything was positive, I don't think we had a single negative comment about the plans.

"We did get some really good suggestions from individuals within the community about other sports they would like to see in the pavilion or on the pitch.

"There's also the chance of a partnership with another charity that does sports locally so all in all it was fantastic.

"The provost, Jim Leishman, turned up and brought Chloe Dickson, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist in fencing, and she brought her rapier with her!

"We also had Dick Campbell and all the local councillors too."

The proposals include a pavilion, full-size astroturf pitch, a six-a-side pitch, a running track, new floodlights and new fencing around the site.

The pavilion will include changing rooms, equipment space, rooms for coaching staff and referees and a small café.

An upstairs space will also be made available for any functions or use by community groups.

The pitches will be available to both football and hockey teams – as well as others sports clubs in and around the area – for practice during the winter when their own facilities are out of action.

All going well the demolition of the existing, and badly damaged, buildings at Ore Park will be the first stage of the project.

Charlotte acknowledged that finding the £2m to make this happen won't be easy and said: "That's our challenge for the New Year.

"We'll take on board all the suggestions, have a break for Christmas and then meet up early next year for some serious business planning, and that will include the fundraising."

They'll also look to learn lessons and take advice from similar sporting and community developments in Cupar and across the Forth at Spartans in Edinburgh.

She added: "We're not going to reinvent the wheel. We'll see what's worked elsewhere and if it fits with our plans.

"We've got realistic expectations. We know it's going to be a challenge but it's an exciting project and we have identified some potential sources for funding.

"We're hoping to get on site in June 2023, with maybe planning permission and our business plan done a bit earlier."