WORK on the first phase of a new sports village for Rosyth is set to begin this year – and that could also bring good news for the town’s junior football club.

The creation of a hub for outdoor and indoor sports at the Fleet Grounds, which Fife Council bought from the Ministry of Defence for £133,000 in 2014, has moved a step closer. 

The South West Fife Sports Partnership has now agreed heads of terms and received a draft lease agreement from Fife Council.

The partnership want to lease the land from the council and develop it into a sports village and, last year, councillors backed the plans with a £400,000 investment to create a new 3G artificial pitch, three full-size grass pitches, a seven-a-side pitch, floodlighting, refurbishment of the pavilion, access improvements and additional car parking in phase one of a three-part project.

The plan is to have the 3G surface available for bookings from November with the revenue from pitch hire helping to fund the next phases.

One of the stated aims of the partnership was to have all of Rosyth’s football teams, of all ages, based at the Fleet Grounds. 

However, after councillors accepted in offer in August to sell Rosyth Juniors’ Recreation Park for a new supermarket, the Press reported that the initial plans did not include the juniors side. 

A report to the council’s executive committee suggested the club should relocate to the Fleet Grounds but there was uncertainty about the move. 

That now looks likely to happen with an update on the partnership’s Facebook page, which read: “The Heads of Terms (with the council) have now been accepted. 

“We, in partnership with Fife Council, will start moving forward and develop the Rosyth sports village (with a) new astro pitch, pavilion refurbishment, new grass pitches, fencing, relocation of Rosyth JFC, and possibly some other other projects.”

Chairman Jon Harrison said: “Once we have signed the lease, the council will come in and tell us where the juniors will go. 

“We’re looking at three full-size pitches and the juniors, but work on the pavilion will take some time. 

“The synthetic pitch will be done soon but I think grass pitches will be left until the spring.

“All the Rosyth teams and the Dunfermline Athletic ladies are committed to coming, we’re talking to the likes of Box Soccer and want to bring things like frame football, walking football and midnight leagues. 

Rosyth Labour councillor Mike Shirkie said: “Tender action has now been completed by Fife Council and a successful contractor identified. 

“Work on phase one, the main elements of which are a new 3G pitch and upgrade of the pavilion, are expected to commence later in the year.”

A spokesman for Rosyth Juniors said that moving to the Fleet Grounds is the club’s preferred option but they were still seeking clarification on the issue.