PLANS to move Lochgelly South Primary school to a new home while vital repair work takes place have been approved by Fife councillors.

Members of the council's cabinet committee agreed to a recommendation for the temporary decant to St Kenneth's Primary and to Lochgelly Sunflower Nursery for eligible nursery children.

The local authority plans to install a modular unit in the grounds, which will house the nursery and increase the space available in the main school building.

However, before the new accommodation can be installed, extensive ground remediation works will be required, during which time the building can't be occupied.

Education and children's services head of service, Shelagh McLean, explained that they were advised of "historic shallow mine workings" beneath the school.

"These do not represent a risk to the safety of users but will result in subsidence damage to the building unless remedial works are carried out," she explained.

"It will not be possible to carry out these works without significant disruption to the school."

There are currently no signs of subsidence damage however the council have been advised that work will need to be carried out as soon as possible.

"Whilst damage at some time in the future is inevitable, it is impossible to predict timescales," added Ms McLean.

"Therefore, work is required as soon as it can be arranged. Advice from the mining and structural engineers is that the council should work on the basis of vacating the building from August 2023."

Local councillor Linda Erskine said, following consultation sessions, she could see no other option than the temporary move.

She added: "It is going to take a huge amount of work locally to deliver it."

Fellow Lochgelly, Cardenden and Benarty councillor Rosemary Liewald said most parents were "fairly satisfied" with what was going to happen.

"Prior to myself becoming an elected member, I was a member of staff at Cardenden Primary," she told councillors. #"Back in 2008 we had a similar situation which occurred where the entire school and staff and pupils had to decant down to Denend Primary.

"That was incredibly successful. Any issues that had raised concerns at the time were immediately addressed. There were great interactions between both headteachers and for the 20 months I was there as a member of the educational support staff, I don't recall any particular bumps in the road.

"I am assured with everything that has been put in place and the pre planning with teachers, staff, parents and children, that we will have a successful period of decant and they can return to the school when the full work and improvements have taken place.

"I am more than contented that is what is going to take place."