THE pre-planning application lodged for the west end approach to Lochore Meadows Country Park, if given the green light, would bring a dream of the late chairman of Cowdenbeath Area Committee, Willie Clarke, to reality.

Willie was councillor for the Ballingry-Lochore area for over 40 years, during which the Meedies grew from what was rehabilitated pit spoil, to become one of Scotland's biggest visitor attractions, but Willie always felt somehow its prowess was undersold.

He always was of the belief that there was space at the Meadows for more facilities and on several occasions he made public his ideas for an area of the park to be given over to holiday lodge accommodation.

The pre-application, submitted to Fife Council by W Thomson and Sons, includes an element for a number of lodges on land near the western access to the park.

Willie would certainly have approved of the proposal. He always felt that three was a real potential for a 'holiday park' at the Meedies which throughout the spring, autumn and summer would bring thousands of more people to the Central Fife area and their spending power for the local economy of the Benarty area, Kelty and the towns of Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly.

The councillor was always frustrated that while there was often talk about this sort of project nothing concrete ever appeared.

However, the Thomson family see it as an important part of their project for the land which lies between the park and Kelty.

Despite the problems caused for public attractions by the Covid-19 crisis, Lochore Meadows has still proved popular for casual visitors, even when lockdown was at its most severe.

However, where the crisis has had the most severe impact on the Meedies has been the cancellation of a whole host of events which were due to come to the park, some for the first time, stopping thousands of people coming to the park.

But looking ahead those groups who were robbed of the chance to be part of the Meedies scene will want come here in 2021 and if the holiday lodges plans coming into being Willie Clarke's dreams of what the park could become would surely be realised.