A CHURCH with just 20 members is looking to buy the James Allan Centre.

The Christian Community Church has been running community groups in the council building on Paton Street for the last two years and hope by making it their permanent home they can provide more support to the area.

The Reverend Lorna Tutty said: "We have only just begun talks with Fife Council so we don't know how much we l have to pay for it.

"However, we do know it's one of the centres earmarked for the council to sell on.

"Structurally,the place is sound but we'll need to spend £30,000-40,000 to refurbish it.

"The area feels like it’s been forgotten about and so the aim is to provide a centre that is a focus area for the community."

The church currently rents the James Allan Centre for a children's club and a cafe that's open twice a week.

Members also meet there on a Sunday to worship.

The independent church split from the Church of Nazarene two years ago and have felt at home trying to build connections in the Paton Street area since.

The Rev Tutty continued: "We want this building to be very much part of the community. The area between Townhill, Kingseat and Bellyeoman seems to have been neglected and it is very socially-deprived.

"Drugs, alcohol and mental health issues are quite prevalent but we've seen that many people have started to come together and want to get involved.

"If we buy the building we would to start a parent and toddler group, dementia support group, a breakfast club.

"To be honest, we have a whole list of ideas but our hands are tied at the moment.

"We have a great connection with Headwell House and we know we could provide activities for five or six care homes.

"We can promise that other users of the community centre will still be able to continue to use the hall, we're open to all."

Councillor Gavin Ellis expressed his support of the church's plans to buy the centre.

"The local community and I would like to see an asset transfer take place to put this neglected facility into the hands of the community," he said.

The church is hosting an annual family fun day at the James Allan Centre on September 2, from 12-4pm.