THE number of commuters leaving their cars at the two park and rides in West Fife will determine if another one is needed in Rosyth.

Halbeath has been full up in recent weeks and Transport Scotland will be watching to see if Ferrytoll starts to hit capacity too.

If the two sites can’t cope with demand, and more drivers will be encouraged to use the park and rides when the public transport corridor opens on the Forth Road Bridge next month, the £6.4 million park and choose at Rosyth could get the go-ahead.

Scottish minister Keith Brown said they’d already been discussing the possibility with Fife Council, who hope their “important” transport project will get the nod.

The Rosyth facility, next to the town’s railway station, received planning permission in 2013 but lack of funding meant work has never started.

However, speaking in July in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Brown said the government was “working with Fife Council on possibilities for the Rosyth park and choose”.

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work added that it “would increase capacity for people who want to stop their car journey and go on to public transport in advance of crossing the Forth”.

The Rosyth park and choose would, unlike the facilities at Halbeath and Ferrytoll, offer drivers the option of catching a bus or train.

The approved plans include 500 car-parking spaces, a bus-turning area and stances, drop-off facilities, a taxi rank and secure cycle parking.

The Scottish Government have already intimated that breaching capacity at the two park and ride sites would justify the need for the Rosyth park and choose.

The recent ‘full up’ signs at Halbeath, which has proved popular since opening in 2013 at a cost of £10m, may have more to do with the M90 queues at the newly-opened Queensferry Crossing.

That’s likely to have made Ferrytoll less popular – it was also closed last weekend due to ongoing works – although the council are cautiously optimistic they’ll get funding for the park and choose in time.

Councillor Altany Craik, convener of the economy, Tourism, strategic planning and transportation committee, said: “Halbeath has been full most days over the last couple of weeks but there’s been a lot of space available at Ferrytoll.

“Rosyth park and choose is an important element of the Forth Replacement Crossing overall Public Transport Strategy being delivered by Transport Scotland.

“Following the opening of the Queensferry Crossing, Transport Scotland is monitoring the demand at both Halbeath and Ferrytoll park and ride sites before deciding on Rosyth park and choose.”