FURTHER discussions over a replacement pitch for Rosyth FC as part of a deal to bring Lidl to the town are to take place.

Plans for the new supermarket, on Admiralty Road, have been in the pipeline since August 2016 when the site was put up for sale by Fife Council.

Two years ago, they granted planning permission for the German firm to build a store, and the proposals included flattening the derelict pub, The Yard, and Recreation Park – the football club's former home ground.

After the council gave Lidl's plan the thumbs up, Rosyth – who have applied to leave junior football and join the East of Scotland League next season – moved out and have been playing on the astroturf pitch at the Fleet Grounds.

As part of the agreement, the local authority agreed to find a new home for the club and plans were made for a new grass pitch at the Fleet Grounds, which would have changing rooms, fencing and parking.

However, work has never started and, in February, an amendment to the plans was lodged by site owner MacTaggart and Mickel, which it was stated was "to vary condition three of Planning Permission 17/0155/FULL to be a developer contribution to Fife Council to deliver the associated replacement football pitch. The pitch at Admiralty Road is no longer used, and the juniors club are using Fife Council's facility at the Fleet Grounds and associated pavilion in Rosyth".

Correspondence from sportscotland suggested that, although Rosyth are using the astroturf pitch at the Fleet Grounds, it did "not in itself justify" not replacing Recreation Park's grass surface, although they also said that they understood that "the applicant may be involved in working with the club to deliver a pitch".

Davie Ogg, the club's chairman, said: "It's very understandable that there are more things going on in the world right now.

"We hope to have conference calls with Kevin Lee (SFA East Region regional manager), the SFA, McTaggart and Mickel and the council.

"We'll just have to wait until we have more meetings."

Part of those talks could feature a replacement school for Inverkeithing High, for which two preferred options – the Fleet Grounds, and a site north of the A921 at Hillend – were identified by the council's education and children's services committee.

Early in the new year, Lidl confirmed to the Press that they intended to "be on site later in the year" to begin work on their new store.

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