KINCARDINE could be set to welcome a community cafe and children’s play facility after plans were lodged with Fife Council.

The Playpen Cafe CIC (Community Interest Company), launched two years ago by Alexandra Ostroumoff-Croucher, want to convert the vacant Co-op premises on 25 High Street into a village hub.

The aim is to “offer a central meeting area” that will also allow children to enjoy “a safe and secure play environment”.

The building has been vacant for more than a year after the Co-op relocated, following a £650,000 investment, to the site of the former Kincardine Bridge Nursing Home on Silver Street.

Now The Playpen, which on its Facebook page said came to life after its founding director “identified the need for more children’s indoor play facilities that catered to the needs of the carer as well as the child”, are aiming to move into its new, permanent home in the autumn if its proposals are given the go-ahead.

In a planning statement supporting the application, agents Bennett Developments and Consulting, said: “The proposed development will see this vacant property changed into a local community hub focussed on a café and children’s play facility, which will offer a central meeting area for the community, where they can enjoy teas, coffees, soft drinks and light meals and snacks and at the same time be secure in the knowledge that any accompanying children will be in a safe and secure play environment.

“The company behind this concept is Playpen Cafe CIC, a local company who have been in discussions with the local council, who have visited the premises and are very supportive of the idea.

“The idea is to develop this facility to create a venue for the community where people can meet, enjoy a snack and, at the same time, access local advice services almost as a one-stop shop based on a café.”

The plans, which also include the creation of a large function area to the rear of the building that would be available for “a range of events and meetings”, would see the village facility open from 8am-10pm seven days a week.

On their Facebook page, The Playpen – who also offer “a gateway to accessing mental health and wellbeing” – further explained their plans for Kincardine site.

They said: “We have reached an exciting time as we are now due to open our permanent premises in West Fife where we can massively increase our offering to the community.

“We will continue to develop our ‘Pop-up Playpen’ mobile play cafe, which will see us go out in the wider community with our café, playroom and parental support services, particularly targeting very rural locations or areas of significant social deprivation.

“We use our profits to deliver free parental support events, family events and to run our free and low-cost Pop-up Playpen programme in Clackmannanshire, Fife and Falkirk.”