Fife Council’s Community & Housing Services Committee has approved a funding package that will deliver significant investment in local sports facilities in Leven, Dalgety Bay and North Queensferry.

Project proposals were approved by members for a new gym extension and dedicated aerobic studio, including disabled access improvements, within Levenmouth Swimming Pool and Sports Centre.

Group pic caption: Cllr Judy Hamilton and Area Leisure Manager Allan Reid at Levenmouth Swimming Pool and Sports Centre with Duty Manager Dougie Anderson (centre) and Leisure Attendants Leah Thomson and John Shaw.

Work will also be carried out at Dalgety Bay Sports and Leisure Centre where the dry side facilities will be reconfigured to extend the gym, create a multi-purpose room and a new dedicated aerobic studio within Dalgety Bay Sports and Leisure Centre.

A selection of artist impressions of Levenmouth Swimming Pool and Sports Centre

A new Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) will also be constructed at North Queensferry Community Centre.

Speaking after the meeting, Convener of the Committee, Cllr Judy Hamilton said: “Fife Council is committed to improving health through leisure and sport opportunities. Preventative health interventions can help to reduce health inequalities and we have seen an increase in customers at other leisure centres thanks to investment that improved the facilities on offer.

“Despite financial challenges, it’s important that the Council continues to make invest where required. It is particularly needed in areas such as Levenmouth where there is little in the way alternative sports facilities and quite significant health inequality compared with other parts of Fife.”

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust operate both Levenmouth and Dalgety Bay sports facilities on behalf of Fife Council. Ed Watson, the Trust’s Chief Executive added: “This additional investment by Fife Council is very welcome and helps the trust deliver its commitment to provide high-quality, affordable access to physical activity opportunities for the local communities of Fife.

“Trust staff have worked hard to plan and design new gym proposals for both Levenmouth and Dalgety Bay which will significantly increase both gym size and stations. In addition, local communities will benefit from an extension of, and in the case of Levenmouth, the creation of, new studio space, which allow our extremely popular fitness class programme to be enhanced and delivered in both centres.

“Since its launch in 2008, the trust has increased attendance rates year-on-year and it is committed to getting more people active more of the time – this investment helps us further engage with local communities.”

The North Queensferry Community Centre is run by the North Queensferry Community Centre Management Committee who have a long term lease for the facility.

The three projects will be funded as part of the £10m allocated in Fife Council’s Capital Plan 2017-2027 for’ improving health through leisure and sport’ agreed at full Council in February 2017