A NEW £240,000 play park in Dunfermline – which was approved more than a year ago – should finally be ready in October.

It should be all swings and roundabouts in Public Park as Fife Council allocated the money needed in March last year and the planning application got the go-ahead two months later.

But kids looking forward to using the play park have been kept waiting, with work now scheduled to start at the end of July.

Ten weeks have been allowed for construction with councillors told it should be completed by October 1.

Central Dunfermline Community Council carried out extensive consultation and raised money for the project and chairman Jim Stewart said: "It's for Fife Council to say why there was such a long delay.

"I know it was one of the last things approved before the change in administration last year and there was then further dialogue about the funding and the delivery of it.

"We did chase it and were also told that some of the equipment had to be specially sourced from Germany.

"I get that, with the scale of the spend, there are processes to go through but we were disappointed it has to go to another committee this week.

"Nothing happens very quickly at the council."

The new play park will go at the top of the path that leads to St Margaret's and Commercial primary schools, east of the Louise Carnegie Bandstand, and include an adventure trail, a grass mound with slides, swings and spinners, a rope bridge, a seesaw, balance beam, up and over net, a mega swing and a 'flying fox'.

It will also have boulders for climbing and sitting, safety surfacing, a spiral path, picnic tables, landscaping and a public art installation

A council report said: "The design of the play area is based around a natural theme using timber units. The main feature of the site will be two large tepee units.

"A sensory area with chimes and windpipes has been incorporated into the design."

Jim added: "It will be great. The Glen have their new play park too but ours is quite different with more natural, outdoor equipment. I think they will really complement each other."

During construction the site will be closed to the public with security fencing put up. The rest of the park will remain open as normal.

The park used to have two play areas but one was removed on safety grounds and the other will be taken down soon.

The council's contribution of £228,592 is set to be approved today by another committee, community and housing services.

The funding, from the council's £10 million fund for improving health through leisure and sport, was previously endorsed by Dunfermline councillors on March 8, 2017.

The total project is estimated to cost £239,674. The Carnegie Dunfermline Trust has pledged £10,000 and the community council has contributed £1,082.